Featured Porcelaine Sculptures

Hi everyone, first post here...

I just came into possession and would like to find out about the origin and value of these sculptures.

The pieces are about 50 cm high, and one of them (with a single subject) has some markings on the bottom of the base.

Any information in regards to origin or age will be appricated.

 

Cupid & Psyche. Other is either Psyche about to open the box containing some of Proserpina's beauty, which she has been told not to open, or Pandora about to open the box with all the evils of the world, which she has been told not to open. I'd look to makers of Parian ware for the originals.

Following my own suggestions:

https://www.antiqueparian.com/en-GB...p-of-cupid-and-psyche/prod_10182#.XBh5l81ryM8

https://www.antiqueparian.com/en-GB...ian-figure-of-pandora/prod_10098#.XBh6P81ryM8

 

Most people here, myself among them, would say you are double-bleeping amazing in the research you do.

 

Another Minton from Skinner 2012

Minton Parian Figural Group of Cupid and Psyche

 

Here's one of Pandora, which sold at auction for $764:
https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2363/lots/143

 

Those don't look to be Parian ware to me, they look marble or reconstituted marble. None of those are Minton ciphers, of course.

 

The Pandora looks pretty close to the Minton based on those links, but the Cupid and Psyche has telling differences in the modelling. The devil is in the details. That auction link on the Cupid and Psyche says it is marked on the back of the base. Is there any such marking on this? Is there any marking on the back of the base of the Pandora? (Don't know if there should be or not.)

Having them together like this suggests that they came from the same source, though not necessarily so. If one is wrong for Minton, it does give cause to wonder about the other.

Did Samson do Parian?

 

Welcome, Ilya. They are beautiful.

 

Hi Ilya!

Welcome to Antiquers!

Lovely Sculptures.

 

Have a look at that brownish discolouration in the impressed marks, and the way they show up, plus the surrounding material. Not parian.

 

The marks on @Bronwen s first link.

Drove house antiques

Sorry - that was done on my phone and way too tiny!

The potteries.org Minton marks

 

I think thats cinnamon residue OBB.

 

I'm staying out of the Minton/not Minton fray. I was brought in for the subjects & only said:

The little monograph I have on Parian says that during the Victorian period there were many makers & much that is not marked. It mentions that Pandora is one of their earliest designs, going into production in 1851.

Addendum: Since the Cupid & Psyche is taken from a sculpture now in the Capitoline museums, it may have been used by any maker. Pandora was designed for Minton. It would be of interest to know how the accurately measured heights of OP's figures compare with those of authentic specimens.

 

Thank you, everyone, for the input and sharing the knowledge! This has been very educational.

The consensus seems to be that these are not Minton so the markings on one of the sculptures (Pandora) are still a mystery. The other piece has no markings at all. Not sure how common it is for a maker not to mark this kind of work.

 

The Capitoline Cupid & Psyche sits on a round base:



The shape of the base on OP's seems to be specific to Minton. It may not have been made by them, but certainly copies theirs.

Comparing, the version Bourne made for Minton is considerably different from its inspiration, not just in the fig leaf.

 

So, what is the significance of the way the marks are made and discoloration?

 

Ilya, did you rub anything into the marks, please?