Figure
ca. 1751-55 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This charming figure of a dancing girl seems to have been copied from the Chelsea model of Columbine of about 1751, which in turn was copied from an original Meissen model of one of the characters in the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. It was made at the small porcelain factory owned by Charles Gouyn, the former partner of Nicholas Sprimont at Chelsea. Gouyn seems to have parted company with Sprimont in about 1747 and there is documentary evidence to suggest that he set up his own porcelain factory in or near to Piccadilly in London and continued to make porcelain until about 1761. It is thought that figures and larger models were only made in the early years, however, and the majority of the factory's products were small seals, scent bottles and teawares. Gouyn was based in Bennet Street in St James from 1736-83 where he had his own jewellery retailing business.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed white soft-paste porcelain |
| Brief description | Figure of a dancing girl in glazed white soft-paste porcelain, Charles Gouyn's factory, St James's, London, ca. 1751-55 |
| Physical description | Figure of a dancer in glazed white soft-paste porcelain. She stands pointing her left foot out and holding out her skirts with both hands. Her neckline, wrists and shoes are decorated with bows. Square base with bevelled edges and corners. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Lt. Col. Kenneth Dingwall, DSO through Art Fund |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This charming figure of a dancing girl seems to have been copied from the Chelsea model of Columbine of about 1751, which in turn was copied from an original Meissen model of one of the characters in the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. It was made at the small porcelain factory owned by Charles Gouyn, the former partner of Nicholas Sprimont at Chelsea. Gouyn seems to have parted company with Sprimont in about 1747 and there is documentary evidence to suggest that he set up his own porcelain factory in or near to Piccadilly in London and continued to make porcelain until about 1761. It is thought that figures and larger models were only made in the early years, however, and the majority of the factory's products were small seals, scent bottles and teawares. Gouyn was based in Bennet Street in St James from 1736-83 where he had his own jewellery retailing business. |
| Associated object | c.689-1920 (Pair) |
| Bibliographic reference | Manners, Errol. A Documentary ‘Girl-in-a-Swing’ Seal and other considerations on the porcelain of Charles Gouyn’s factory. English Ceramics Circle Transactions, Volume 18, part 3, 2004, pp 398-407. Illustrated fig. 3, p. 399. The Marquis of Granby seal illustrated fig. 10 was probably made after the Marquis's victory at the Battle of Warburg, 31st July 1760, thus extending the factory's period of production to that year or the following one. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.328-1919 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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