Chinese Boy in a Creeper-like Tree: C.95-1950

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Chinese Boy in a Creeper-like Tree

Maker(s)

Factory: Derby Porcelain Factory

Entities

Figure

Description

Soft-paste porcelain figure of a Chinese boy climbing in a creeper-like tree, painted in polychrome enamels.

Soft-paste porcelain figure of a Chinese boy, lead-glazed very slightly greyish-blue, and painted overglaze in yellowish-green, yellow, puce-pink, greyish-purple, orange-red, and brown enamels. The closed, unglazed base has an almost central depression, and five small patch marks or scars round the edge, where there are dribbles of glaze. The circular base has a rounded edge and rises up in the middle into a low tree trunk surrounded by branches which curve down to meet the base, and having three more which grow upwards in a tangly way. The Chinese boy has his right leg through one of the upper branches, and kneels on the tree trunk on his left knee. His features are picked out in pale brown, and red. He wears a floral patterned. white 'boiler suit' with a pink collar, and sleeve linings, a turquoise sash, and yellow low boots. The tree is coloured with washes and stripes of yellow, green, and brown.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Mrs W.D. Dickson

Measurements and weight

Height: 22.2 cm

Place(s) associated

Derby ⪼ Derbyshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Transitional Derby
18th Century, Mid
George II
Circa 1755 CE - 1756 CE

Note

This belongs to the group of figures described as ‘Transitional Derby’ by Arthur Lane, although its modelling is very different from some of the others, such as the Seated Gentleman with a Dog (C.3069-1928).

School or Style

Rococo
Chinoiserie

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( yellowish-green, yellow, puce-pink, greyish-purple, orange-red, and brown)
Base Depth 11.4 cm Width 11.2 cm

Materials used in production

presumed lead-glaze Lead-glaze
Soft-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Slip-casting : Soft-paste porcelain, lead-glazed very slightly greyish-blue, and painted overglaze in yellowish-green, yellow, puce-pink, greyish-purple, orange-red, and brown enamels. The closed, unglazed base has an almost central depression, and five small patch marks or scars round the edge, where there are dribbles of glaze
Lead-glazing