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Derby Porcelain Figure of Minerva with Owl, Rococo Ca 1765

Name: Derby Porcelain Figure of Minerva with Owl, Rococo Ca 1765
Brand: Derby
Rating: 5 (44 reviews)

$1,585List Price

About the Item

This is a beautiful Derby porcelain figure of the goddess Minerva made around 1765, which was the Rococo era. The figure is finely made and in fabulous condition. 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. This figure is a large version of an earlier figure made in the early 1760s. Minerva is stood in a cuirass over a long colourful dress and covered by a lavish cape. She wears sandals and a crested helmet. In her right hand she holds a spear; in her left hand she holds her shield with Medusa's head on it. At the foot of the shield is a pile of books with an owl, signifying Minerva's wisdom. Minerva was born as a peace loving goddess who would use military might wisely only when needed. She taught Perseus how to slay the Gorgons by going after Medusa; he had to never look at her directly but only at her reflection in his shield. Perseus was thus able to slay the Gorgons and rewarded Minerva by gifting her Medusa's head to place on her shield. Like Mars, Minerva was a goddess of war and military strategy, but where Mars is usually shown great physical strength, Minerva is the one who strategises and uses strength wisely. Minerva is also the protector of the arts. In Greece, Minerva was called Athena, but as this figure is dressed as a Roman she is called Minerva. 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. A popular passtime was to guess figures of classical mythology, and Derby made representations of all the major Roman gods and goddesses. The figure is unmarked but it has three patch marks on the underside, suggesting a date of between 1759 and 1769. Provenance: Dr. David Wilders Collection CONDITION REPORT: In excellent antique condition. The left hand has had some light restoration, and there is a light touch up on the crest of the helmet, none of which is visible. There is a firing crack through the underside of the base and a very faint firing crack through the back of Minerva's cape - these are production flaws and not damage, and cannot be seen when in position. The staff is a nice wooden replacement of the original metal one. 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 27cm (10.6").

Creator:
Derby (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 10.6 in (26.93 cm)Diameter: 5 in (12.7 cm)Length: 10.6 in (26.93 cm)
Style:
Rococo (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Porcelain,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
1760-1769
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1765
Condition:
Repaired: Tiny invisible professional repairs to hands and helmet, staff has been replaced. Wear consistent with age and use. In excellent antique condition with some very minor invisible repairs.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: A-DER611stDibs: LU4805129524552

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