Object Type
The figure is one of a pair of male and female figures (C.156-1931) and represents a gardener's companion. Both the figures hold baskets for serving dry sweetmeats, such as sweets, chocolates, nuts, small biscuits, raisins or other dried fruit. They would have been set out on a dinner table during the dessert course of a meal. Porcelain figures were first made as table decorations for the dessert. Most were decorative, but others, such as these, carried shells or baskets and performed a useful function on the table. It was very fashionable in mid-18th century Europe to decorate dessert tables with formal layouts of garden hedges and flowerbeds made in confectionery. Figures formed as gardeners would have been appropriate ornaments for such settings. Idealised representations of gardeners, shepherds and shepherdesses, often fashionably dressed, were very popular in mid-18th century Europe.

Trading
The Chelsea factory aimed at the top end of the market. It sold its wares from the factory site, from factory-run warehouses in the West End of London, through London ceramic dealers, and at auction held in London, Dublin and probably elsewhere. These figures would only have been bought by the wealthy.