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Seated Nun or Abbess Reading: C.3033-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

Seated Nun or Abbess Reading

Maker(s)

Factory: Bow Porcelain Manufactory

Entities

Categories

Description

Soft-paste porcelain figure of a Seated Nun or Abbess Reading.

Soft-paste porcelain containing bone ash, press-moulded, and clear-glazed on the visible surfaces. The closed base is unglazed and has a central ventilation hole. The nun is seated on a low mound with a square hole in the back to take an attachment. She looks down towards a large book which she holds in both hands. Her left foot projects over the edge of the base at the front. She wears a long, voluminous veil, and a long dress.

Notes

History note: J. Hutchinson, Esq., FRCS, 1 Park Crescent, W1; sold Sotheby's, 24 November 1921, lot 81; sold for £3 to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher

Legal notes

Bequeathed by J.W.L. Glaisher

Measurements and weight

Depth: 11.6 cm
Height: 14.3 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Mid
George II
Circa 1752 - 1755

Note

This model was probably inspired by a Meissen porcelain figure of a seated canoness reading modelled by J.J. Kaendler and J.F. Eberlein, c. 1745.

School or Style

Rococo

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

phosphatic Soft-paste porcelain
presumed lead Lead-glaze

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Soft-paste porcelain containing bone ash, press-moulded, and clear-glazed on the visible surfaces
Lead-glazing

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.3033-1928
Primary reference Number: 41575
Old object number: 3959

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 11 November 2025

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 (2026) "Seated Nun or Abbess Reading" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/41575 Accessed: 2026-01-02 14:56:05

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/41575 |title=Seated Nun or Abbess Reading |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-02 14:56:05|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Seated Nun or Abbess Reading</figcaption>
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