The Continents thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 53a

The Continents

Statuette
ca. 1770 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
The figure is emblematic of Europe. It 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 set against a wall. They may have been displayed set out on a chimneypiece or other domestic furnishing.

People
The Four Continent set of figures was first made by the Nicholas Crisp (born about 1704; died 1774) and John Saunders partnership at Vauxhall in London. The modeller has not been identified. However, the Neo-classical sculptor John Bacon the Elder (1740-1799) was apprenticed to Crisp, and is said to have modelled for the factory. On the other hand, Crisp also employed a modeller and mould-maker named Hammersley, who later worked at Plymouth, where this figure was made. Even if he did not model the figure, Hammersley may have made the moulds in which they were cast, and he presumably took the moulds or casting models from London to Plymouth. The Plymouth factory was founded by William Cookworthy (1705-1780), an apothecary. Cookworthy had discovered the raw materials required for 'true' or hard-paste porcelain when prospecting in Cornwall in the 1740s, but he did not succeed in manufacturing it on a commercial scale until 1768.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • The Continents (series title)
  • Europe (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Hard-paste porcelain
Brief description
Figure of 'Europe', from a set of the four 'Continents', hard-paste porcelain, Plymouth porcelain factory, England, ca. 1770
Dimensions
  • Height: 32.7cm
  • Width: 13.4cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN Height approx, scaled from photo
Gallery label
British Galleries: In the late 1760s Plymouth became the first British factory to make hard-paste porcelain of the Chinese type. Production there was the result of more than 20 years of experimentation and prospecting for raw materials. Even so, the factory experienced great difficulties firing the porcelain, as indicated by the smoke-staining here.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
From a set of 'The Continents'. Made at the Plymouth porcelain factory, Devon.

Given by Mrs. Nelson of Plymouth. Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Summary
Object Type
The figure is emblematic of Europe. It 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 set against a wall. They may have been displayed set out on a chimneypiece or other domestic furnishing.

People
The Four Continent set of figures was first made by the Nicholas Crisp (born about 1704; died 1774) and John Saunders partnership at Vauxhall in London. The modeller has not been identified. However, the Neo-classical sculptor John Bacon the Elder (1740-1799) was apprenticed to Crisp, and is said to have modelled for the factory. On the other hand, Crisp also employed a modeller and mould-maker named Hammersley, who later worked at Plymouth, where this figure was made. Even if he did not model the figure, Hammersley may have made the moulds in which they were cast, and he presumably took the moulds or casting models from London to Plymouth. The Plymouth factory was founded by William Cookworthy (1705-1780), an apothecary. Cookworthy had discovered the raw materials required for 'true' or hard-paste porcelain when prospecting in Cornwall in the 1740s, but he did not succeed in manufacturing it on a commercial scale until 1768.
Collection
Accession number
3088-1901

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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