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George II
Cheere, John, born 1709 - died 1787 - Enlarge image
George II
- Object:
Bust
- Place of origin:
Liverpool, England (made)
- Date:
1757-1760 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Cheere, John, born 1709 - died 1787 (possibly after, sculptor)
Richard Chaffers Factory (manufacturer) - Materials and Techniques:
Soft-paste porcelain
- Credit Line:
Given by Lady Charlotte Schreiber
- Museum number:
414:134-1885
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 53a, case 5
Object Type
The bust is comparatively large, and was probably made for display in an entrance hall or other spacious domestic or civic interior. Such busts would have been used to display their owners' patriotic support for the monarch.
Time
George II (reigned 1727-1760) is shown in his later years. This, and the patriotic and victorious elements on the bracket made to accompany the bust, suggest that it was made at a time of victories, such as those of 1757-59 - Clive at Plassey in India; Wolfe at Quebec - during the Seven Years War against France.
Design & Designing
The bust was probably copied from one cast in plaster. Such commercially-produced plasters were occasionally used at British porcelain factories as prototypes for production, especially for figures and busts. Some plaster-makers knew that their production lines were being reproduced by the ceramics factories (and they charged them accordingly), but others were on their guard against plagiarists.
Materials & Making
The bust is one of a group of sculptural porcelains that have been chemically tested and found to contain soaprock. This mineral was mined under licence in Cornwall. From documents we know that Richard Chaffers (1731-1765) of Liverpool was among those who used it as an ingredient in making porcelain, and he currently seems the most likely manufacturer of the several versions of this bust.
