How do I clean antique porcelain statues?

Dust surfaces gently using a soft, dry artist's brush to protect delicate painted details, gilding and fragile elements like porcelain lace. Avoid submerging unglazed bisque pieces in water or using chemical solvents that can penetrate porous ceramic bodies and damage historical pigments.

What is the difference between bisque and glazed porcelain?

Bisque porcelain is fired without a glossy surface glaze, producing a matt, tactile finish that resembles carved white marble. Glazed porcelain receives a glassy coating before its final firing, creating a shiny, waterproof surface suitable for rich hand-painted colours and gold leaf.

Are nineteenth-century French figures marked?

Many pieces bear impressed, painted or incised factory marks on the underside, ranging from pseudo-Chelsea gold anchors to specific Paris maker stamps. Unmarked examples remain common, requiring attribution based on paste composition, modelling style, glaze characteristics and subject matter.

How were pairs of figures displayed?

Makers frequently produced matched pairs representing romantic couples, allegorical seasons or street vendors to balance mantelpieces and furniture tops. They were arranged symmetrically as garnitures to frame clocks, candelabra or central sculptural groups in nineteenth-century interiors.