Venus and Cupid seated on a Dolphin: EC.16B-1938

Titles

Venus and Cupid seated on a Dolphin

Maker(s)

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

Entities

• Figure group

Categories

• Soft-paste porcelain

Description

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Venus and Cupid seated on a Dolphin painted in enamels and gilt.

Soft-paste porcelain figure of Venus and Cupid seated on a Dolphin, slip-cast, and painted over lead-glaze in blue, pale turquoise, bluish-green, green, pale yellow, pale orange, flesh, pink, purple, red, brown, beige, and black enamels, and gilt. The unglazed flat base has a large oval ventilation hole in the centre and three patch marks. The circular high mound base has a wavy edges, and pierced sides, decorated with applied seaweeds, and realistic shells of different shapes and sizes, naturalistically coloured. Venus and Cupid are seated on a dolphin facing to the right with water streaming from its mound down the side of the base. Venus faces to the front with her head turned to her left. She holds a billowing pink scarf with her left hand, and rests her right elbow on the dolphin’s tail, so that the right hand is raised. Her hair is brown, and she has a ruddy complexion and red lips. Her upper torso is nude, and round her lower body and legs she has a drape with a gold, red, and blue floral pattern and yellow lining. On each arm she has a gold bangle. Cupid is nude and winged, and has ruddy cheeks and red lips. He holds a small paddle behind him on which there is a small gold anchor mark. The dolphin has green scales, pale orange fins and tail, black eyes surrounded by pale turquoise and orange circles, and a pale orange mouth with black markings.

Notes

History note: Unknown before testator

Legal notes

Cecil Byas Bequest

Place(s) associated

• Derby ⪼ Derbyshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1937) by Byas, Cecil E.

Dating

18th Century, third quarter#
George III
Gold anchor period (1759-69)
Circa 1760 CE - 1765 CE

Note

The use of realistic shells and rockwork was a feature of rococo silver and porcelain. It also occurs on Derby centrepieces.

School or Style

Rococo