Antique Porcelain Figurines of Children, Helena Wolfsohn, C. 1880.

Antique beautiful pair of porcelain figurines of boy grape picker with a bag of grapes and girl flower with a basket. Both have been hand painted in enamel and decorated in finery with gilt highlights in Dresden at the factory of Helena Wolfsohn. These figurines have been made with exceptional care; their natural postures, facial expressions and beautiful clothes all speak of the highest level of master attention. The figures are dressed in traditional clothes, painted in vibrant colors and decorated with flowers patterns. The pieces are very finely hand-painted with excellent detailing, including the floral patterns and clear facial details. Both figurines with "Augustus Rex" stamp - used by Meissen and copied by Helena Wolfson.

Helena Wolfsohn was a successor of her father who runs a porcelain business under the name L. Meyer & Söhne. She was buying white porcelain mostly in Meissen and decorated it imitating style of the oldest Meissen pieces by Johann Gregorius Höroldt and Michel Victor Acier.

The Helena Wolfsohn factory did not exist for a long period of time (1879-1883), so items from this manufactory are rare. At the Helena Wolfsohn factory the porcelain itself was not produced, all blanks were supplied directly from different manufactories. The blanks were painted, glazed and fired. Helena Wolfsohn specialised in Rococo porcelain painting.

From 1879 the business also frequently copied the mark "A.R." (Augustus Rex) registered by the Meissen factory. The year the company began using the "A.R." mark is known because the copyright holder immediately took legal action, and this continued until 1883 before the studio was forced to stop using the mark. Rather than stop using the mark, it was continually slightly altered to complicate the court's decision. Because they continued to use the mark after the investigation began, the court not only ordered them to stop all use of this or similar marks, but also ordered them to compensate the copyright holder for the use of their mark. This ruined the business and it was closed at the end of 1883.The Helena Wolfsohn manufactory was one of the best continuers and preservers of the tradition of Meissen porcelain. It is often very difficult to distinguish Meissen porcelain from the porcelain of one factory or another, so high is the class of work.

Dimensions: height of figurines 11 cm.

Condition: boy - on the left side the broken off a piece of rope on which he carries a basket of grapes, the left hand professionally restored, very small chips on the leaves and almost invisible paint loss - excellent condition. Girl - left hand professionally restored, minimal paint loss - otherwise 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. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.