http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lomonosov-Russia-Russian-Porcelain-Figurine-Vintage-Ferret-Weasel-/330757749131?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d02b2b98b#ht_2763wt_1344

Maybe that's it? Looks the same shape?

Ah. Sorry! I needed to read all the way. You know about that one. It does look like it though. Maybe someone did a remake of it and left off the details or Ikea airbrushed them out?

It's very possible that Ikea airbrushed it out of the Lomonosov, a lot of color matching and behind the scene stuff is edited both into and out of the catalog.

Agree with the above. It is super cute either way though!

This is why they need to bring back the Alchemy service on Etsy.

I know this isn't porcelaine but it's an option if you can't find anything else. She would probably even make a solid white Ferret if you asked. The one listed below is only 3" but maybe she also makes larger versions

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89240037/ferret-figurine-in-sable-by-bonjour

Otherwise I couldn't find anything else except for the already mentioned Lomonosov Ferret

The lomonosov ferret looks right! I wonder if you could wipe away the face and the little claws with a swipe of acetone.

I'm sure it's the Lomonosov, and I think it's just reflections that make it look like the IKEA installation is faceless. (Airbrushing might also be involved, but I think I can see eyes if I look closely.)

If so, I suspect the eyes are a glaze, not paint that could be removed with acetone. I'd get her that one, and if she is REALLY bothered by the face, it could be (gasp) spray-painted white. (Or maybe one of those "make your own pottery" places -- in my town there's one called "Your Are Fired!" - could re-glaze it with an opaque white glaze...)

it's definitely the lomonosov

I'd be careful about using anything to try to remove the face. It looks like the entire piece may be glazed in clear and you may ruin the finish....Why not just leave the face?

you could always paint the whole lomonosov in a high gloss white... Would remove the face detail but not hurt the porcelain. I like the faceless version much better. Best of luck, your sister is lucky to have you, working so hard to get this gift!

Just found something similar on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lomonosov-Figurine-Ferret-/310176054706

I would leave the face, why ruin a collectors antique? It could be worth a lot more someday.

Thanks for your help, everyone! I really appreciate it. Seems like the consensus is that it is the Lomonosov piece I mentioned.

there are other versions if you go the way of the Lomonosov: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Lomonosov-Porcelain-Ermine-Ferret-Sitting-Up-USSR-Mark-/00/s/NDQ4WDI1MQ%3D%3D/%24(KGrHqJHJB!E-EtEG7n)BPlJe-WIE!~~60_35.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lomonosov-Porcelain-Ermine-Ferret-Sitting-Up-USSR-Mark-/130685233258&usg=__RFRwjC5JRMrNQ0xPSmBqZhaO4Qc=&h=300&w=168&sz=10&hl=en&start=22&zoom=1&tbnid=HWo-LiNNiPWJ_M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=65&ei=sQkkUJeGPLPr0QGzpoCYBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dporcelain%2Bferret%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1 (ebay - this one to me has a more appealing face).

but also - you could always see if you could have someone make something of the like for you. try etsy as mentioned above - but if there is any kind of arts in your area, someone might be able to help you out.

Like my best dang girlfriend always says, "Never use items for display only that are cooler than your own merchandise. It just pisses people off, and makes it less likely they'll buy your loser wares."
She's in the retail sales/merchandising field. So she knows stuff.