Derby Porcelain Allegorical Figure Of Europe, Circa 1760

A fine Derby figure of a young girl representing Europe, from the series The Four Quarters of the Globe. She stands barefoot on a naturalistic base, dressed in exotic robes, holding an orb in her right hand and a sceptre in her left. The front of the base is inscribed in gold with 'Europe'. The base has traces of patching. Material: Soft-paste porcelain Height: 26.1 cm Weight: 964 grams Reference: Derby Porcelain Figures, Bradshaw, accession number 200, plate 249. Condition: Minor chips to some flower petals, minor firing lines to the neck and back, minor losses to the gilding. Otherwise the condition is excellent. Figures from this series are highly sought after by collectors and occupy prestigious places in the world's leading museums. The origins of the Derby porcelain factory date back to the late 1740s, when Andrew Planché, a Walloon Huguenot refugee, began making simple porcelain animal toys in his garden. In 1756, Staffordshire enameller William Duesbury and banker John Heath joined forces with Planché to establish a new porcelain factory. This venture became the largest of its kind at the time, acquiring the Chelsea and Bow factories, which had gone bankrupt, as well as the stock of several other workshops, including that of James Giles. The combination of diverse traditions, porcelain-making skills and a sophisticated clientele enabled Duesbury to create one of the finest porcelain factories of the 18th and 19th centuries, which, after many vicissitudes, is still in operation today. At its peak in the 18th century, the factory's reputation was such that in self-published advertising material, the 'Derby Porcelain Manufactory' proudly proclaimed itself 'the second Dresden'. Duesbury maintained what would today be called a 'trading space' independent of the Chelsea factory, in a former pub - The Castle Tavern - in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. This space served as both a warehouse and exhibition space, and was the showcase for what had by then become 'a very flourishing and lucrative trade'. Derby porcelain was hand-painted, sometimes with Imari motifs, in London at the Chelsea premises, and the output of this dual operation became known as Chelsea Derby. Eventually the Chelsea site was closed and the Derby name was maintained in increasingly splendid isolation, to the extent that continued royal patronage allowed Duesbury to add a crown to its brand, giving rise to Royal Crown Derby Porcelain. Duesbury also used representations of the marks used on Sèvres, Dresden, and Berlin porcelain, as he considered his own products to be superior to all other sources except these three. Early British porcelain is rarely perfect. Kilns were fired with coal, which often caused firing spots from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, which sometimes resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to kiln shrinkage, objects may develop small firing lines or crazing over time, which should not be considered damage but rather imperfections in the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of production. Objects that have been used for many years may show normal signs of wear, and gilding may disintegrate slightly even if it has never been handled. Minor scratches, nicks, stains and disintegration of the gilding are normal for antique items and should be taken into account. Please study the photographs accompanying the item carefully, as they are an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.