America
Figure
ca. 1760-1764 (made)
ca. 1760-1764 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This figure, emblematic of America, is a purely decorative piece from a set representing the Four Continents. Each of the figures is frontally posed, and the backs are poorly finished, so they were probably intended to be seen against a wall. They may have been displayed set out on a chimneypiece or other domestic furnishing. This figure has previously been attributed to both the Bow and the Longton Hall porcelain factories.
People
The Vauxhall porcelain factory was run by Nicholas Crisp (born about 1704; died 1774), a merchant and owner of a jewellery shop in the City of London, in partnership with John Saunders, a delftware potter. Crisp was also a founder and very active member of the Society of Arts. The modeller of these pieces has not been identified. However, the Neo-classical sculptor John Bacon (1740-1799) was apprenticed to Crisp and is said to have modelled for the factory. On the other hand, it is known that the Vauxhall factory employed a modeller and mould-maker named Hammersley, who later worked at Plymouth, where these figures of the Continents were also manufactured.
This figure, emblematic of America, is a purely decorative piece from a set representing the Four Continents. Each of the figures is frontally posed, and the backs are poorly finished, so they were probably intended to be seen against a wall. They may have been displayed set out on a chimneypiece or other domestic furnishing. This figure has previously been attributed to both the Bow and the Longton Hall porcelain factories.
People
The Vauxhall porcelain factory was run by Nicholas Crisp (born about 1704; died 1774), a merchant and owner of a jewellery shop in the City of London, in partnership with John Saunders, a delftware potter. Crisp was also a founder and very active member of the Society of Arts. The modeller of these pieces has not been identified. However, the Neo-classical sculptor John Bacon (1740-1799) was apprenticed to Crisp and is said to have modelled for the factory. On the other hand, it is known that the Vauxhall factory employed a modeller and mould-maker named Hammersley, who later worked at Plymouth, where these figures of the Continents were also manufactured.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | America (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamels and gilded |
| Brief description | Figure, in soft-paste porcelain painted with enamels and gilded, of a Native American woman representing America, made by Vauxhall porcelain factory, London, 1760-1764 |
| Physical description | Figure, in soft-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilded, of a Native American woman representing America, standing and wearing flowered and gilded drapery and a head-dress of feathers; she is taking an arrow with her right hand from a quiver on her back, and in her left hand she holds a bow; she is supported by the stump of a flowering tree, at the base of which is a prairie-dog;, on a round rococo scrolled base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
TWO VERSIONS OF A FIGURE OF AMERICA The repetition of the design here was probably the result of moulds being taken from Vauxhall to Plymouth, where men from Vauxhall were employed after the factory closed down. Workers had to be mobile because of bankruptcies and fluctuations in demand, but their mobility helped spread styles throughout the industry.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Lady Charlotte Schreiber |
| Object history | America, as one of a set of Four Continents, is inspired by the antique Greek statue of Artemis, known as 'Diane Chasseresse', in the Louvre Museum, Paris. Purchased by Lady Charlotte Schreiber from Beeks, Bristol, for £15 in February 1869. Acquired as Bow porcelain. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This figure, emblematic of America, is a purely decorative piece from a set representing the Four Continents. Each of the figures is frontally posed, and the backs are poorly finished, so they were probably intended to be seen against a wall. They may have been displayed set out on a chimneypiece or other domestic furnishing. This figure has previously been attributed to both the Bow and the Longton Hall porcelain factories. People The Vauxhall porcelain factory was run by Nicholas Crisp (born about 1704; died 1774), a merchant and owner of a jewellery shop in the City of London, in partnership with John Saunders, a delftware potter. Crisp was also a founder and very active member of the Society of Arts. The modeller of these pieces has not been identified. However, the Neo-classical sculptor John Bacon (1740-1799) was apprenticed to Crisp and is said to have modelled for the factory. On the other hand, it is known that the Vauxhall factory employed a modeller and mould-maker named Hammersley, who later worked at Plymouth, where these figures of the Continents were also manufactured. |
| Other number | Sch. I 86 - Schreiber number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 414:8-1885 |
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| Record created | March 16, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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