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Cupid with a Magic Lantern from a series of 'Cupid in Disguise': C.97-1950

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

Cupid with a Magic Lantern from a series of 'Cupid in Disguise'

Maker(s)

Factory: Derby Porcelain Factory
Proprietor: William Duesbury & Co.

Entities

Categories

Description

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Cupid carrying a magic lantern and musical box, painted in enamels, and gilt

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Cupid, slip-cast, painted overglaze in turquoise, green flesh pink, red, purple, reddish-brown, brown, pale grey, and black enamels, and gilt. The underside is unglazed and has a large circular ventral ventilation hole surrounded by three patchmarks. The square base has cut corners, and straight sides decorated with a gold band, and at the back has a green and reddish brown tree stump. The Cupid tands on his right leg with his left extended behind, and turns his head to his left. Has has brown hair, eyebrows, and eyesHe wears a black tricorn hat, a turquoise and purple patterned drape, white socks and black shoes. In both hands he holds a rectangular reddish-brown box with a handle on its right side, probably a musical box, and carries on his back by means of two black straps, a pale grey magic lantern.

Notes

History note: Unknown before donor, Mrs W.D. (Frances Louisa) Dickson, Bournemouth

Legal notes

Given by Mrs W.D. Dickson

Measurements and weight

Height: 12.3 cm
Width: 5.2 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Derby ⪼ Derbyshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1950-09) by Dickson, W. D. (Frances Louisa), Mrs

Dating

18th Century, Late
George III
Circa 1775 - 1780

Note

Cupids in Disguise were first produced at Meissen, and were being imitated at Chelsea by 1755 when they appear in the catalogue of the Chelsea sale, held by Mr Ford, on the first day, 10 March, lot 43 'Six beautiful small figures, LOVE IN DISGUISE, for desart', and continued in production during the Gold Anchor period.

This model is one of a series of seventeen small Derby figures of ‘Cupid in Disguise’.It was accessioned as Cupid with a Hurdy Gurdy, but is listed by Bradshaw as Cupid with a Magic Lantern. The box it holds appears to be a musical box rather than a hurdy-gurdy.

School or Style

Rococo

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamel ( turquoise, green, flesh-pink, red, purple, reddish-brown, brown, and black) gold

Materials used in production

except most of base Lead-glaze
Soft-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Slip casting : Soft-paste porcelain, slip-cast, painted overglaze in turquoise, green flesh pink, red, purple, reddish-brown, brown, pale grey, and black enamels, and gilt. The underside is unglazed and has a large circular ventral ventilation hole surrounded by three patchmarks.
Lead-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: script N

  • Text: No 19 or No 18
  • Location: On underside of base
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: script G possibly followed by 26
  • Location: On underside of base
  • Method of creation: Incised and blackened
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: Derby/c.1775-80
  • Location: On underside of base
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in red ink
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.97-1950
Primary reference Number: 133242
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 3 October 2016 Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Cupid with a Magic Lantern from a series of 'Cupid in Disguise'" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/133242 Accessed: 2024-03-29 13:41:58

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/133242 |title=Cupid with a Magic Lantern from a series of 'Cupid in Disguise' |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-29 13:41:58|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-133242

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