Derby Figurines Of The Welch Tailor And His Wife, C.1870.

A pair of very popular satirical figures, from soft paste porcelain, depicting a tailor and his wife on goats. They were copied from figures first modelled in 1740 by the leading Meissen sculptor J.-J. Kaendler. Derby figures, first made by the Derby factory in 1760.
The featured figures were made at the new Derby factory at King Street opened in 1848. The marks at the bottom were in use from 1861 to 1935 (Stevenson & Hancock mark). This suggests that these pieces were created within the specified period, according to Blackwood and Head in their book “The Old Crown Derby China Works”.
The figures are supposedly inspired by a real incident. Count Heinrich von Bruhl (1700-1763) was Prime Minister of Saxony and Director of Meissen (one Dresden porcelain factory) from 1735. A profligate dandy, he offered his tailor a reward of his choosing for meeting a deadline. The tailor chose to attend a court banquet. This request was considered ridiculous, so instead porcelain forms of the tailor and his wife were placed as table decorations on the count''s banquet table. “Welsh” in the figure’s title results from incorrect translation of Meissen’s title of the figure “Ein Schneider welcher auf einem Ziegenbock reutet” (A Tailor who rides a goat…). So more correctly, these figures are ''the Welch tailor and his wife.''
Derby figures of the Welch tailor and his wife, both are sitting on goats, she with three babes; one in arms, two in a basket, he with two goat kids in a caddy, one sucking milk from a goat, his cobalt blue coat with gilt highlights, her skirt similar, both on green naturalistic bases with foliate scrolls.
They carry their tools of the trade including scissors and pin cushions. The bases are decorated with colorful porcelain applied flowers and gilt trim. Beautifully modeled with gorgeous colors and intricate hand painted detail in polychrome and gilt enriched, they are an exquisite pair to display.
Dimensions:
Tailor: Height 13cm, width 9cm. depth 7cm.Weight 276 grams
Tailor’s wife: Height 13.5 cm, width -9 cm, depth 7 cm. Weight 338 grams.
Condition:
Tailor - minor gilding losses, small enamel cracks in keeping with age, on the bottom one hairline crack. Between the tailor's hand and the left ear of the goat a drop of varnish is visible under a magnifying glass -apparently a manufacturing defect.
The tailor’s wife - minor losses of gilding, small enamel cracks in keeping with age , on the left side of the woman’s jacket a small hairline crack, on the base of the figurine a small crack,
Otherwise the figurines are in excellent antique condition.
Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.