Chelsea porcelain gardeners, c. 1760.
£780.00
Fine Chelsea porcelain figure of a gardener, c. 1760. Beautifully modelled by Joseph Willems, and decorated as a man dressed in 18th Century attire, stood next to a large whicker basket, supported by a tree stump, before a vibrantly enamelled flowering tree.
He stands upon a rectangular shaped mound base, encrusted with further flowering plants.
The underside unglazed, and having a ground footrim.
A beautifully observed study, note the sock, slipping down his left leg.
Gold Anchor mark to the reverse.
Height – 14.7 cm, 5 3/4”.
Width – 13.5 cm, 5 1/3”.
Depth – 7.7 cm, 3 1/8”.
Condition – Typical small chips to leaves and flowers. No restoration.
Joseph Willems (1715 – 1766), is listed in Mortimer’s London Directory, as being ‘At the Brussels Coffee House, Chelsea. Teaching drawing, modelling, and has modelled for the Chelsea China Manufactory for many years’
He exhibited at the Society of Artists of Great Britain, and some of his figures were modelled in terracotta, whilst others were reproduced in lead by John Cheere.
