This is a fabulous pair of Derby porcelain figures of Winter and Spring, made between 1756 and 1759, which was the Rococo era. This is what is called the "Pale Family" era of Derby's figure production. Originally these figures formed part of a set of four that included Summer and Autumn.
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.
We see Vulcan as Winter, wrapped in a purple mantle with a fur rim, warming his hands above a brazier with fire at his feet. Next to him is a putto chopping wood for the fire (although the axe got lost). The other figure is Flora as Spring, with flowers in her hair, holding a bunch of flowers to her nose, and next to her a putto with a basket of flowers on its head. Flora is wearing a colourful dress and a teal green shawl.
These figures are made most probably after the Meissen Season figures made by Eberlein.
Figures like these were used to adorn the dinner table when dessert was served; groups of figures could serve to express something about the host, the guests, or to direct the conversation. The Four Seasons would of course represent the passing of time, and perhaps for the landed gentry the importance of good management of the land.
The figures are unmarked as is usual for figures of this particular era. They are numbered D24 in the generally accepted index of Derby figures and an image can be found in Peter Bradshaw's book "Derby Porcelain Figures 1750-1848" in plate 63.
CONDITION REPORT: The figures are in excellent antique condition with some minor flaws. The putto standing next to Winter lost his axe and there are some very minor losses to flower petals on the Spring figure. There are firing cracks on the underside of both figures; this happened during production and should not be seen as damage. Spring has a firing crack in the back of her neck; this should not be seen as damage as it seems to be something that happened in the kiln.
If desired we can arrange excellent restoration for a small additional fee to give the putto his axe back; however as there is currently a lack of restorers this could take some time. Please let use know if you are interested.
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.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger.
DIMENSIONS: Height ca 22cm (8.75").
Derby porcelain figures of Winter and Spring, 1756-1759
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