Derby Porcelain Figural Candlesticks, Georgian C1770

A rare and decorative pair of 18th-century English porcelain figural candlesticks, made around 1770, Georgian period. Each piece features a pastoral figure standing in front of an elaborate flowering bocage, with a candle socket in the shape of a blooming flower. The male figure wears a rustic striped outfit with a tricorn hat; the female companion wears a corseted bodice and holds a flower basket. They likely represent gardeners or flower sellers, a popular theme in English rococo porcelain.
The figures stand on ornate scrollwork bases decorated with gilding. The applied flowers, soft facial features, and naturalistic enamel palette are characteristic of Derby porcelain from the 1770s. This period marked a high point in the factory’s artistic development, producing some of the most refined and collectible figural works of the Georgian era. The modeling and composition are closely related to designs attributed to Jeffreys Hamet O’Neale, one of Derby’s leading sculptors of the time.
Bases are unmarked, as typical for the period.
This pair is a fine example of Derby porcelain at its best – a blend of artistic charm, technical skill, and historical importance. Rare in this form and scale, and highly sought after by collectors of 18th-century English ceramics.
Dimensions: male height 25.5 cm, width 13 cm, depth 11 cm, weight 954 grams; female height 24.7 cm, width 12 cm, depth 10 cm, weight -1074 grams
Condition: male – left hand is missing, on the ankle of the right foot crack from firing, minor loss of flower petals; female – left hand looks overpainted, minor loss of petals, otherwise both in excellent antique condition.Shipped fully tracked and insured.
Shipping cost includes labour, packaging, and postage.
Please carefully review the accompanying photographs, as they form an integral part of this description. Feel free to ask any questions.