Rare Pair of Large Derby Porcelain Bocage Candlestick Figures Liberty & Matrimony as Children

A very fine pair of Derby bocage figural candlesticks, a rare version of Liberty & Matrimony. A youth, as Liberty, stands against the bocage, holding on to a branch and leaning forwards, holding out a nest of chicks in his left hand, trying to encourage them to fledge and fly away. His female companion as Matrimony, gestures towards him with her right hand, inviting him to place the chicks in the open cage she has tucked under her left arm.

Stood on scrolled bases with double candle sconces, the bocages are very finely detailed with clusters of different coloured blooms, each individually applied. The figures are dressed in simple peasant clothes, beautifully decorated in bright pastel enamels, with floral designs, and both with matching pattern to his jacket and her bodice of pink roses on a yellow ground. She wears a patterned ribbon in her hair, and his hat lies on the ground at his feet. Patch marks to base, c.1765-1770.

Reference: Derby Porcelain Figures 1750-1848, DPIS, Shepherd, plates CA5 & CA6, catalogued as "rare". Also, Derby Porcelain by John Twitchett, plate 62. They are not mentioned in Derby Porcelain Figures b yBradshaw where only two versions of Liberty & Matrimony are discussed, a pair of standing adult figures, and a pair of reclining adult figures, sometimes with candle sconces. 

Measurements:

Matrimony measures 26cm (10 1/4") wide, 29cm (11 3/8") high and 13cm (5 1/8") deep

Liberty measures 25cm (9 3/4") wide, 28cm (11") high and 13cm (2 1/8") deep.

Condition is excellent overall with just minor repair and restoration: Matrimony has had a small amount of excellent quality professional restoration to her right hand and there is a very small chip to the rim of her right sconce. Both sconces have been re-attached underneath and over-sprayed to the area. This has covered the undersides of both drip catchers but they have not been repaired and the coating cannot be seen when stood.

Liberty has had an invisible repair to his left wrist and the chicks have sadly lost their heads. His left sconce has had some repair and professional touching up and there are some hairlines to the right sconce also which has been reattached underneath. They have had the same extensive over-spraying to the undersides as Matrimony's, but again cannot be seen when stood.

No other damage, repair or restoration and only very minor faults with either bocage, mainly just to a few of the leaf tips around the edges. Minimal handling wear, the enamels and gilding and excellent.

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