Physical description

Figure, in hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilded, of a boy playing a hurdy-gurdy; he is in a running attitude with the instrument, which has a pattern of black scrollwork, strung by a blue band from his right shoulder; he wears a blue plumed hat with a red ribbon, white coat, waistcoat, knee-breeches figured with floral sprays in gold, stockings, and brown shoes with red rosettes; he is supported by a tree stump on an irregular base painted to imitate the ground

Place of Origin

Bristol (made)

Date

ca. 1775 (made)

Artist/maker

Bristol porcelain factory (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

Hard-paste porcelain, painted in enamels and gilded

Marks and inscriptions

'T°' [Impressed]
The mark of the 'repairer', traditionally identified as 'Tebo' but possibly John Toulouse or another

Dimensions

Height: 18.4 cm

Object history note

One of a pair with 414:738/A-1885 (Sch. I 749A)
These two figures were purchased by Lady Charlotte Schreiber from De Maan, The Hague, for £15 in March 1874
In her Journals Lady Charlotte Schreiber recorded (vol. I, p. 252, March 12, 1874), 'On reaching our Hotel we found that we had just missed de Maan, who had called by appointment. He came, however, the following morning before I was out of my room. C.S. went down to see him, and presently ran back joyfully back to me bringing what de Maan was offering for sale. What was my astonishment and delight when he displayed before my bewildered eyes no less than 5 beautiful Bristol figures! viz. the boy with hurdy gurdy, a girl dancing with a triangle, the girl with dog, and a boy and girl of a model we had never seen before, he holding a bird and she some flowers. The price was not very small for Chelsea, which is what de Maan considered them to be, but it was little enough for Bristol, which they really were, and we gladly gave him the £32. to which, after a little parleying, he came. Our Bristol figures now surpass every collection. We have every known type but one (the female companion to our shepherd carrying the kid), and have three specimens hitherto unknown, viz. the two bought this morning, and the fine double group purchased of Jacob some yeast ago.

Descriptive line

Figure, in hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilded, of a boy playing a hurdy-gurdy, made by Bristol porcelain factory, Bristol, ca. 1775

Materials

Porcelain

Techniques

Painted; Gilded

Subjects depicted

Hurdy-gurdies; Boy

Categories

Ceramics; Porcelain

Collection

Ceramics Collection