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ID #SA1074335
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£600
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Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.
Gillers Antiques Ltd
for sale €702     $762
£600
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2023
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Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

19th century
Description

Derby figurines of the Welch Tailor and his Wife, c.1820

A pair of very popular satirical figures, from soft paste porcelain, depicting a tailor and his wife on goats. They were copied from figures first modelled in 1740 by the leading Meissen sculptor J.-J. Kaendler. Derby figures, first made by the Derby factory in 1760.

The featured figures were made at the new Derby factory at King Street opened in 1848. The marks at the bottom were in use from 1861 to 1935 (Stevenson & Hancock mark). This suggests that these pieces were created within the specified period, according to Blackwood and Head in their book “The Old Crown Derby China Works”.

The figures are supposedly inspired by a real incident. Count Heinrich von Bruhl (1700-1763) was Prime Minister of Saxony and Director of Meissen (one Dresden porcelain factory) from 1735. A profligate dandy, he offered his tailor a reward of his choosing for meeting a deadline. The tailor chose to attend a court banquet. This request was considered ridiculous, so instead porcelain forms of the tailor and his wife were placed as table decorations on the count's banquet table. “Welsh” in the figure’s title results from incorrect translation of Meissen’s title of the figure “Ein Schneider welcher auf einem Ziegenbock reutet” (A Tailor who rides a goat…). So more correctly, these figures are "the Welch tailor and his wife."

Derby figures of the Welch tailor and his wife, both are sitting on goats, she with three babes; one in arms, two in a basket, he with two goat kids in a caddy, one sucking milk from a goat, his cobalt blue coat with gilt highlights, her skirt similar, both on green naturalistic bases with foliate scrolls.

They carry their tools of the trade including scissors and pin cushions. The bases are decorated with colorful porcelain applied flowers and gilt trim. Beautifully modeled with gorgeous colors and intricate hand painted detail in polychrome and gilt enriched, they are an exquisite pair to display.

Dimensions:

Tailor :Height 13cm, width 9cm. depth 7cm.Weight 276 grams

Tailor's wife Height 13.5 cm, width -9 cm, depth 7 cm.Weight 338 grams.

Condition :

Tailor - minor gilding losses, small enamel cracks in keeping with age, on the bottom one hairline crack.Between the tailor's hand and the left ear of the goat a drop of varnish is visible under a magnifying glass -apparently a manufacturing defect.

The tailor's wife - minor losses of gilding,small enamel cracks in keeping with age , on the left side of the woman's jacket a small hairline crack, on the base of the figurine a small crack,

Otherwise the figurines are in excellent antique condition.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Price including delivery.

Declaration

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated these Derby Porcelain Tailor Figurines to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1074335
Description
Derby figurines of the Welch Tailor and his Wife, c.1820
“
A pair of very popular satirical figures, from soft paste porcelain, depicting a tailor and his wife on goats.
Gillers Antiques Ltd

They were copied from figures first modelled in 1740 by the leading Meissen sculptor J.-J. Kaendler. Derby figures, first made by the Derby factory in 1760.

fig 1. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 1. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

The featured figures were made at the new Derby factory at King Street opened in 1848. The marks at the bottom were in use from 1861 to 1935 (Stevenson & Hancock mark). This suggests that these pieces were created within the specified period, according to Blackwood and Head in their book “The Old Crown Derby China Works”.

fig 2. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 2. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

The figures are supposedly inspired by a real incident. Count Heinrich von Bruhl (1700-1763) was Prime Minister of Saxony and Director of Meissen (one Dresden porcelain factory) from 1735. A profligate dandy, he offered his tailor a reward of his choosing for meeting a deadline. The tailor chose to attend a court banquet. This request was considered ridiculous, so instead porcelain forms of the tailor and his wife were placed as table decorations on the count's banquet table. “Welsh” in the figure’s title results from incorrect translation of Meissen’s title of the figure “Ein Schneider welcher auf einem Ziegenbock reutet” (A Tailor who rides a goat…). So more correctly, these figures are "the Welch tailor and his wife."

fig 3. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 3. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

Derby figures of the Welch tailor and his wife, both are sitting on goats, she with three babes; one in arms, two in a basket, he with two goat kids in a caddy, one sucking milk from a goat, his cobalt blue coat with gilt highlights, her skirt similar, both on green naturalistic bases with foliate scrolls.

fig 4. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 4. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

They carry their tools of the trade including scissors and pin cushions. The bases are decorated with colorful porcelain applied flowers and gilt trim. Beautifully modeled with gorgeous colors and intricate hand painted detail in polychrome and gilt enriched, they are an exquisite pair to display.

fig 5. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 5. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

Dimensions:

Tailor :Height 13cm, width 9cm. depth 7cm.Weight 276 grams

Tailor's wife Height 13.5 cm, width -9 cm, depth 7 cm.Weight 338 grams.

Condition :

Tailor - minor gilding losses, small enamel cracks in keeping with age, on the bottom one hairline crack.Between the tailor's hand and the left ear of the goat a drop of varnish is visible under a magnifying glass -apparently a manufacturing defect.

fig 6. A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
fig 6. Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

The tailor's wife - minor losses of gilding,small enamel cracks in keeping with age , on the left side of the woman's jacket a small hairline crack, on the base of the figurine a small crack,

Otherwise the figurines are in excellent antique condition.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Price including delivery.

Date of Manufacture

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated these Derby Porcelain Tailor Figurines to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1074335
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2023
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Gillers Antiques Ltd Profile Page

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A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
1 / 20
Archive I A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.

Derby Figurines of the Welch Tailor and His Wife, C.1861-1935.

Archive II A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View II
Archive III A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View III
Archive IV A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View IV
Archive V A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View V
Archive VI A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View VI
Archive VII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View IX
Archive X A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View X
Archive XI A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XI
Archive XII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XII
Archive XIII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XIII
Archive XIV A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XIV
Archive XV A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XV
Archive XVI A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XVI
Archive XVII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XVII
Archive XVIII A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XVIII
Archive XIX A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XIX
Archive XX A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases. View XX
Enlarged Archival View
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd
Telephone 07738 009924
Location
Buckland House
Buntingford
Hertfordshire
SG9 0PY
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified Since Mar 2023
Items For Sale 401
Items Sold 564
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Verified Since Mar 2023
View Dealer Info
Location: Buckland House, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0PY, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified
Mar 2023
For Sale
401
Sold
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A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
Derby figurines of the Welch Tailor and his Wife, c.1861-1935.
Ref: SA1074335
A pair of painted porcelain figurines depicting a man and woman in 18th-century attire riding goats with cobalt blue gilded jackets on rococo scroll bases.
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FAQs

The subject of the Welsh Tailor and his Wife riding goats originated at the Meissen factory in the 18th century as a satirical caricature and was subsequently adapted by major English factories including Derby.

These figures were cast in white porcelain using multi-part plaster moulds, fired, hand-painted with coloured enamel glazes, and detailed with hand-applied gold leaf gilding.

Authentic Derby figures typically display painted or factory-impressed marks on the base, such as a crown with crossed batons, alongside characteristic pad marks and hand-gilded detailing.

A pair of ceramic figures can be displayed on a mantelpiece, sideboard top, or within a glazed bookcase, pairing them with books or simple contemporary backdrop items to highlight their visual form.

Dust figures regularly using a dry, soft-bristled brush or microfibre cloth, avoiding liquid detergents, solvent cleaners, and immersion in water which can damage the delicate gilding and enamel layer.
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