Cupid at Vulcan's Forge representing Fire: C.3084-1928

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

Cupid at Vulcan's Forge representing Fire

Maker(s)

Factory: Longton Hall Porcelain Manufactory
Production: Littler, William

Entities

Figure

Description

Cupid at Vulcan's Forge, representing Fire from a Set of Elements, of 'Snowman' type. Glassy soft-paste porcelain, appearing creamy-white, moulded, and covered with thick clear lead-glaze with black speckles here and there, particularly on the top of the base, which has a 'dry' edge. The flat underside is unglazed and has a small circular ventialation hole under the forge, and a large rectangular one on the right under the figure. The base is rectangular and is decorated round the side and front edges with applied leaves and daisies. The infant Cupid sits on a low rock on the right, leaning forward towards the forge to warm his hands. He has short hair and is nude apart from a drape. The forge is square with incurved sides and has a flaming chimney with scrolls on the corners. A shovel and tongues rest against the front.

Notes

History note: Sir Hercules Read; sold Sotheby's, 6 November 1928, Catalogue of the varied and extensive collection of works of art, the property of Sir Hercules Read, 2nd day, part of lot 192; purchased by Hunt (or Hant) for £18 for both parts for Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 9.9 cm
Height: 12.4 cm
Width: 16.1 cm

Place(s) associated

Longton Hall ⪼ Staffordshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Mid
Circa 1750 CE - 1752 CE

Note

Longton Hall is situated near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire

The glassy soft-paste porcelain of Longton Hall contained flint glass, ground flint, gypsum, limestone, and ball clay. The lead in the glass permitted it to fuse at a lower temperature, but also made it prone to warp or collapse during firing. This is shown by many warped waster fragments excavated on the site.

School or Style

Rococo

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

except for the base Lead-glaze
Glassy soft-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Glassy soft-paste porcelain, appearing creamy-white, moulded, and covered with thick clear lead-glaze with black speckles here and there, particularly on the top of the base, which has a 'dry' edge. The flat underside is unglazed and has a small circular ventialation hole under the forge, and a large rectangular one on the right under the figure
Lead-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: rectangular with cut corners and a black line border, inscribed in black ink in Dr J.W.L. Glaisher's hand

Text: 5118/Figure of a boy/warming his/hands by a fire/of white French/soft paste [crossed out] frm a///b. at Sotheby's/Nov. 6 1928/[Hercules Read /sale]
Location: On the base
Method of creation: Handwritten in black ink
Type: Label