How to clean dirty porcelain figures?

Dust them with a soft makeup brush first. This dislodges loose dirt without scratching the glaze or catching on sharp edges. For stubborn grime on glazed pieces, use a cotton swab dipped in warm water and mild soap. Do not submerge the figure, as water can get trapped inside the hollow base through the vent hole.

My grandmother left me a small metal statue of a horse and rider but I am not sure what kind of metal it actually is, how can I tell?

Weight is your best initial guide. Bronze feels heavy for its size and stays quite cold to the touch. Spelter is a zinc alloy that feels noticeably lighter and warms up quickly in your hand. Look closely at the surface finish. Bronze develops a complex patina over time. Spelter figures were often painted or given a surface wash to mimic bronze, and this coating frequently flakes off to reveal dull grey metal underneath. Turn the piece over to check the underside of the base. If you see a bright silvery-grey scratch where it has rubbed against tables, it is likely spelter.

What does bocage mean on figures?

Bocage is the leafy background support found on many early pottery and porcelain figures. Modellers created these intricate trees by pressing clay into small moulds and attaching the leaves one by one. They served a practical purpose in the kiln. The network of branches helped prop up the main figure during firing, stopping the softening clay from slumping under its own weight.

I have a pair of figures showing a man and a woman in old-fashioned clothes holding baskets of flowers, do they always come as a set like this?

Factories designed a lot of figures to face each other on a mantelpiece. These pairs usually share matching decorative themes, like seasonal clothing or complementary poses. Over the centuries, pairs often got separated as estates were divided up among relatives. Finding an original left and right facing pair that have stayed together since they left the factory is uncommon. Some models were sold as larger garnitures of three or five pieces. The central figure would stand taller, flanked by smaller complementary subjects.

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Antique Figurines from the 19th Century

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Antique figurines are small, freestanding sculptures cast in metal or fired in clay. People bought them to display on a mantelpiece or fill a glazed corner cabinet.