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An exceptional Chelsea figure of a Carpenter, circa 1753-55 image 1
An exceptional Chelsea figure of a Carpenter, circa 1753-55 image 2
Lot 178

An exceptional Chelsea figure of a Carpenter, circa 1753-55

Withdrawn
Amended
Fine Glass and British Ceramics
27 November 2024, 10:30 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

£4,000 - £6,000

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An exceptional Chelsea figure of a Carpenter, circa 1753-55

Modelled by Josef Willems, a strikingly handsome gentleman carrying the tools of his trade in a sack balanced on a stick held over his left shoulder, including a sharp saw, a smaller bag in his right hand, wearing red breeches visible below his apron, a brightly coloured bandana under his black hat and a natty pink and blue neckerchief knotted about his neck, flowers applied to the base by his feet, 19.8cm high, red anchor mark

Footnotes

Illustrated by Margaret Legge in Flowers and Fables, National Gallery of Victoria exhibition catalogue (1984), p.36, no.63.

On day four of Mr Ford's sale of Chelsea porcelain in the Haymarket, March 1755, lot 14 was described as 'a carpenter with his tools'.

William King reminisces in his paper on Chelsea chronology that Bernard Rackham 'considered the red-anchor Carpenter at South Kensington one of the most beautiful figures that had ever been made in any country of Europe', see ECC Trans, Vol.1 (1933), p.9. We might forgive Rackham's hyperbole when describing the Victoria and Albert example of this figure; as the present lot is disarmingly appealing. Although the inspiration behind this model is likely Kaendler's series of Cris de Paris figures, it is not a copy of a Continental prototype. Moreover, Chelsea's restrained use of colour shows Willem's modelling at its best.

Saleroom notices

Please note this lot has been withdrawn.

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Bid now on these items

A London delftware 'Bleu Persan' mug, circa 1680-1700
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