Figure in soft-paste porcelain, painted with enamels and gilded, of a boy with a Macaroni dog, and he is dressed in fanciful costume and kneels on a rocky mound with his arms round the dog, which has a cocked hat on its head.

In the eighteenth century 'Macaroni' was a term used to describe a fop or dandy wearing decorative clothes. It was also applied to animals.

The base, of swirled rococo scrollwork. 'Patch marks' on the base.

This figurine appears to be part of a unique collection of porcelain Derby figurines, which has been meticulously gathered over many years.

Very rare figurine, a similar one can be found in the museum of Victoria and Albert. 

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O165831/boy-with-macaroni-dog-figure-william-duesbury/

On this page, the following is stated: “One of a pair with Girl and Cat 414:416/A-1885 (Sch. I 349A)

The pair was purchased by Lady Charlotte Schreiber from Flandin, Paris, for £14 in April 1873”

In our shop you may also see the figurine “Girl with a Macaroni Cat”.

It would be interesting to count up the value of these figurines, how much are the £14 in 1873 worth today?

Using the inflation calculator here, we can see that the cost equals to £1621 today. https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1873?amount=14  

The Derby Porcelain factory has its roots in the late 1740s, when Andrew Planché, a Walloon Huguenot refugee, started making simple porcelain toys shaped like animals in his back yard. In 1756 Staffordshire enameller William Duysbury and banker John Heath started a new porcelain factory with Planché and this was to grow out to the largest factory of its time, buying up the bankrupted Chelsea and Bow factories, as well as the stock of several other workshops including that of James Giles. The combination of various traditions, porcelain making skills and sophisticated clients enabled Duesbury to create one of the best porcelain factories of the 18th and 19th Centuries, which after many ups and downs is still operative today.

The reputation of the factory’s output was at its 18th century peak and in self-published advertising material, the “Derby Porcelain Manufactory” was proclaiming itself to be “the second Dresden”.

Duesbury maintained what would now be termed “retail space” independent of the Chelsea works, at a former pub – The Castle Tavern – in Bedford Street, Covent Garden. This was both a warehousing facility and an exhibition area, and was the shopfront for what had by now become “a very thriving and lucrative trade”. Derby porcelain was hand painted, some with with imari patterns, in London at the Chelsea pemises and the output from this dual operation is Chelsea Derby. Ultimately, the Chelsea site was closed down and the name Derby continued in increasingly splendid isolation, to the point where continued Royal patronage afforded Duesbury license to append a crown to his trademark, Royal Crown Derby Porcelain was born. It’s worth noting that Duesbury also used representations of the marks used on Sevres, Dresden and Berlin-made porcelain, as he considered his own wares to be superior to every other source other than those three.

Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. Some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.

Height 15 cm

359 g

Excellent antique condition.  Losses to green shrub; tiny losses to petals and leaves; underglaze crack to cape; restoration to cape; restoration to neck both in front and on reverse. 

I have tried to describe the condition of the lot as fully as possible, as you can see from the extensive detail. However, please review all the photos carefully, and if you are in any doubt, please don’t hesitate to ask for further examination or additional photos.

Item will be sent fully tracked and insured. Please note cost of shipping includes labour, packaging and postage.