Classical clay - Cupid and Psyche, Staffordshire figural group, circa 1780-1800

 

White earthenware, coated with a blue-tinted lead glaze, and painted in green, flesh dark pink, red, brown, grey, and black enamels. Height: 51.8 cm/20.39 inches. Probably the work of Wood and Caldwell. This group was derived either from a now-lost marble which was excavated at Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, or from a copy made about 1730 by Laurent Delvaux. In the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

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Other examples of classically-inspired Staffordshire figures from the same period, circa 1780-1820. Most much less refined - therefore more typical? - but nonetheless charming.

Cupid and Psyche.

Paris.

Venus and Apollo.

Venus and Cupid.

Neptune.

Spring.

Apollo.

Rinaldo and Armida.

Ceres and Cupid.

Apollo.

Ceres.

Urania. (Made as a base for a clock.)

Anthony and Cleopatra, exhibiting two different decoration schemes.

Andromache in Mourning.

Venus.

Adonis.