sphinx
manufacturer: Chelsea porcelain factory (English, estab. circa 1743, closed 1769)
1770-1772
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Object Detail
Description
sphinx, pair, modelled with a woman’s head and breast, wearing an Egyptian inspired head-dress, on a recumbent lion’s body, the sphinxes were produced during the second period of Chelsea’s production, known as raised anchor and have that symbol on the front of each base. During this period the body was improved and chemical analysis has shown that the glaze was whitened with the addition of a small amount of tin-oxide.
"This [figure] may be intended as a portrait of Peg Woffington, [Irish actress and socialite Margaret (Peg) Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760)] but the attribution is very uncertain. It approaches more closely the conventional sphinx of Egypt … Nevertheless, it is probably intended to be a portrait. The remains of the raised anchor can clearly be seen on the front base. This mark was stamped on small oval pad and applied, but often they become detached, wholly or in part.”
"This [figure] may be intended as a portrait of Peg Woffington, [Irish actress and socialite Margaret (Peg) Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760)] but the attribution is very uncertain. It approaches more closely the conventional sphinx of Egypt … Nevertheless, it is probably intended to be a portrait. The remains of the raised anchor can clearly be seen on the front base. This mark was stamped on small oval pad and applied, but often they become detached, wholly or in part.”
Maker and role
manufacturer: Chelsea porcelain factory (English, estab. circa 1743, closed 1769)
Production place
Chelsea, London, England
Production date
1770-1772
Media description
[soft-paste] porcelain
Measurements
100 x 60 x 145 mm
Inscriptions
Mark: raised anchor on the front of both bases.
Credit line
purchased with funds provided by the Nina Stanton 18th Century Porcelain Bequest, 2017
and a specific donation from Ambassador, Andrew Dixon
and a specific donation from Ambassador, Andrew Dixon
Project credit line
This digital record has been made available on TJC Collection Online through a significant donation from the OPENING DOORS fund, the generous support of The Friends of The Johnston Collection, and Digitisation Champion Christine Bell
Accession number
A1397
TJC reference number
1754
