A pair of 18th century Chelsea – Derby bocage porcelain figurines

A pair of 18th century Chelsea – Derby bocage porcelain figurines This product data sheet is originally written in English. Modelled as a shepherd and shepherdess, he plays the pipes before flowering bocage on scrolled turquoise and gold base, his companion modelled filling her apron with flowers.Circa 1770 The Derby Porcelain factory has its roots in the late 1740s, when Andrew Planché, a Walloon Huguenot refugee, started making simple porcelain toys shaped like animals in his back yard. In 1756 Staffordshire enameller William Duysbury and banker John Heath started a new porcelain factory with Planché and this was to grow out to the largest factory of its time, buying up the bankrupted Chelsea and Bow factories, as well as the stock of several other workshops including that of James Giles. The combination of various traditions, porcelain making skills and sophisticated clients enabled Duesbury to create one of the best porcelain factories of the 18th and 19th Centuries, which after many ups and downs is still operative today. The reputation of the factory’s output was at its 18th century peak and in self-published advertising material, the “Derby Porcelain Manufactory” was proclaiming itself to be “the second Dresden”. Duesbury maintained what would now be termed “retail space” independent of the Chelsea works, at a former pub – The Castle Tavern – in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. This was both a warehousing facility and an exhibition area, and was the shopfront for what had by now become “a very thriving and lucrative trade”. Derby porcelain was hand painted, some with with imari patterns, in London at the Chelsea pemises and the output from this dual operation is Chelsea Derby. Ultimately, the Chelsea site was closed down and the name Derby continued in increasingly splendid isolation, to the point where continued Royal patronage afforded Duesbury license to append a crown to his trademark, Royal Crown Derby Porcelain was born. It’s worth noting that Duesbury also used representations of the marks used on Sevres, Dresden and Berlin-made porcelain, as he considered his own wares to be superior to every other source other than those three. Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker’s recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account. This figurine appears to be part of a unique collection of porcelain Derby figurines, which has been meticulously gathered over many years Gentleman: height 25 cm, 915 g Lady: height 24.5 cm, 963 g Girl – restoration to left hand, including the flower; small chip to the underside of the dress at the front; few hairline cracks to the reverse of the green bocage shrub; small losses to tips of leaves and petals; more noticeable losses to the leaves on reverse on upper left side. Boy – restoration to both hands; few hairline cracks to the reverse of the green bocage shrub; small losses to tips of leaves and petals; large area where leaves are missing on reverse – compare with girl’s bocage for reference; noticeable loss to leaves at the front on the bottom right side of the bocage shrub; shallow chip to white glaze at the front of the rocaille base. Please carefully regard all photos. If there are any questions, please pose the questions prior to buying. Item will be sent fully tracked and insured. Duesbury maintained what would now be termed “retail space” independent of the Chelsea works, at a former pub – The Castle Tavern – in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. This was both a warehousing facility and an exhibition area, and was the shopfront for what had by now become “a very thriving and lucrative trade”. Derby porcelain was hand painted, some with with imari patterns, in London at the Chelsea pemises and the output from this dual operation is Chelsea Derby. Ultimately, the Chelsea site was closed down and the name Derby continued in increasingly splendid isolation, to the point where continued Royal patronage afforded Duesbury license to append a crown to his trademark, Royal Crown Derby Porcelain was born. It’s worth noting that Duesbury also used representations of the marks use Year Manufactured 1770 Production Technique soft-paste porcelain Features Hand Painted Time Period Manufactured 1750-1799 Colour Multicoloured Material Porcelain Country/Region of Manufacture United Kingdom Theme English Product Line soft-paste porcelain Type Figurine Brand Chelsea – Derby Subject shepherd and shepherdess