ANTIQUE #SA996953

an 18th century porcelain figurine from derby symbolising africa from a set of four continents - CATEGORY: ANTIQUE CERAMICS - DATED 18TH CENTURY

An 18th Century Porcelain Figurine From Derby Symbolising Africa, From A Set Of Four Continents.

Name: An 18th century porcelain figurine from Derby symbolising Africa, from a set of four continents.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA996953
Price: 1300 GBP
Availability: InStock

£1,300 $1,735 €1,518

The inscription ''AFRICA'' in gold on the front of the base.

Traces of patches on base.

Circle: 1765-70.

Soft-paste porcelain

Height: 24 cm.

Weight 1067 grams.

Condition: Hairline crack on back of figurine- hard to see, firing on belly of lion,chips on leaves and flowers.

The Derby Porcelain factory has its roots in the late 1740s, when Andrew Planché, a Walloon Huguenot refugee, started making simple porcelain toys shaped like animals in his back yard. In 1756 Staffordshire enameller William Duysbury and banker John Heath started a new porcelain factory with Planché and this was to grow out to the largest factory of its time, buying up the bankrupted Chelsea and Bow factories, as well as the stock of several other workshops including that of James Giles. The combination of various traditions, porcelain making skills and sophisticated clients enabled Duesbury to create one of the best porcelain factories of the 18th and 19th Centuries, which after many ups and down...s is still operative today.

The reputation of the factory’s output was at its 18th century peak and in self-published advertising material, the “Derby Porcelain Manufactory” was proclaiming itself to be “the second Dresden”.

Duesbury maintained what would now be termed “retail space” independent of the Chelsea works, at a former pub – The Castle Tavern – in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. This was both a warehousing facility and an exhibition area, and was the shopfront for what had by now become “a very thriving and lucrative trade”. Derby porcelain was hand painted, some with with imari patterns, in London at the Chelsea pemises and the output from this dual operation is Chelsea Derby. Ultimately, the Chelsea site was closed down and the name Derby continued in increasingly splendid isolation, to the point where continued Royal patronage afforded Duesbury license to append a crown to his trademark, Royal Crown Derby Porcelain was born. It’s worth noting that Duesbury also used representations of the marks used on Sevres, Dresden and Berlin-made porcelain, as he considered his own wares to be superior to every other source other than those three.

Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker''s recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. Some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.

Reference:

Derby Porcelain: The Golden Years 1750-1770, Dennis G. Rice, page 130, no 86.

See similar specimen in the Fitzwilliam Museum;

Also a similar example is illustrated in the online exhibition of the Derby Porcelain Society in the ''Nottingham Road'' section.

See also example from Winterthur Museum and Birmingham Museum of Art, Collection, 2000.177.1.

Please carefully regard all photos.

Item will be sent fully tracked and insured.

Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA996953

Dateline of this antique is 18th Century

Height is 24cm (9.4inches)
Width is 0cm (0.0inches)
Depth is 0cm (0.0inches)

Antique ID: SA996953
Item: An 18th Century Porcelain Figurine From Derby Symbolising Africa, From A Set Of Four Continents. - (reference SA996953)
Buying direct from seller: Gillers Antiques Ltd

Price

£1,300

Shipping to United States of America

£30

Total to pay

£1,330

Your credit card is processed securely by Stripe Inc.

Antique SA996953 shown on this page was made in the 18th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:

←C18th

Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.

ANTIQUE SA996953

CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:

Gillers Antiques Ltd

Hertfordshire

United Kingdom

Tel: 07738 009924

EMAIL SELLER

Your email:

Subject:

Write your message:

EXTRA RESOURCES

Antiques approved in last 24 hours

102

Antiques awaiting approval

Antiques rejected in last 24 hours

Unique visitors today

5813

Total antique impressions today

1073701

Total antiques for sale

67100

Total value of antiques for sale

£139289086

Antiques uploaded so far in July 2026

3865

Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in July 2026

381299

Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in 2026

3942839

Problem with this page?

You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.

Sending report... please wait

Thank you ... we have received your message. Our team will investigate the problem

Stripe Online Payments

An 18th Century Porcelain Figurine From Derby Symbolising Africa, From A Set Of Four Continents.

Thank you.

Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.

Thank you.

Your rating and comment have been sent to Sellingantiques.

Thank you.

Your score has been recieved.

Thanks. But what can we do better?

If you would like to be contacted to discuss your feedback then please leave a phone number or email address in your message.

Thanks for your great feedback!

We love it when our wonderful visitors are happy with us!

Live daily database information for 29 July 2026

Item saved

The An 18th century porcelain figurine from Derby symbolising Africa, from a set of four continents. has been added to your saved items.

Problem with this page?

You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.

Sending report... please wait

Thank you ... we have received your message. Our team will investigate the problem

Sending an email to:Gillers Antiques Ltd

Item:#SA996953 An 18th century porcelain figurine from...

Sending email ...

... please wait

Thank you ... we have received your message.
Our team will investigate the problem

Thank you ... we have received your message.
Our team will investigate the problem

Sending an email to:
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Item:
#SA996953 An 18th century porcelain figurine from...