figure
manufacturer: Derby Porcelain Manufactory (English, estab. circa 1748, closed 1848)
circa 1785
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Object Detail
Description
figure, woman, moulded as a figure of Minerva [or Athena], standing on a Rococo base. She is attired in a crested helmet, a cloak over a cuirass and full length dress with sandals on aher feet. A spear would be held in her right hand, whilst her left is supporting a shield decorated with the head of Medusa; beneath the shield is an owl seated on apile of books. The figure is enamelled in the palette of colours indicative of the period. there is some chipping of the green / turquoise enamel on the cloak. The moulded leafy trunk supports the figure during firing and assists in eliminating slumping during the firing to facilitate a perfect figure from the kiln. The model for this figure was adapted from a lead garden statue by John Cheere, (1709-87). Cheere enjoyed a reputation as a purveyor of lead and plaster statuary from his yard near Green Park London, circa 1772. The garden ornaments were painted in the naturalistic colours of the fashion of the day. He also made portrait busts adapted from the antique and supplied Wedgwood with busts of Plato, Homer, Aristotle and Shakespeare.
Maker and role
manufacturer: Derby Porcelain Manufactory (English, estab. circa 1748, closed 1848)
Production place
Derby, Derbyshire, England
Production date
circa 1785
Media description
soft-paste porcelain
Measurements
340 x 140 x 120 mm
Inscriptions
Unmarked
Credit line
bequest of Alwynne Jona OAM, Melbourne 2013
Project credit line
This digital record has been made available on TJC Collection Online through the generous support of The Friends of The Johnston Collection and Christine Bell
Accession number
A1311
TJC reference number
1658
