A Shepherdess and a Boy with Bagpipes: C.2372-1928

Titles

A Shepherdess and a Boy with Bagpipes

Maker(s)

Factory: Les Islettes (Perhaps)

Entities

• Figure group

Categories

• Tin-glazed earthenware
• French faïence

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in bright green, yellow, puce, brown, and black enamels

Buff earthenware, press-moulded, tin-glazed, and painted in bright green, yellow, puce, brown, and black enamels. The figures are supported on a rectangular, high mound base with a tree stump at the back. The mound is painted in bright green, yellow and black and the stump is brown. The base is hollow and glazed inside. The shepherdess sits on the summit of the mound, resting her head on her left hand, and leaning against the tree stump on her left elbow. She holds a floral garland in her right hand, and looks down towards the boy who is perched on the edge of the mound playing his bagpipe, and looks up towards her. She wears a broad-brimmed hat, a yellow bodice with green epaulettes, and a puce skirt. The boy wears a green long coat with a yellow lining and epaulettes, and puce breeches. His yellow broad-brimmed hat lies on the ground beside the tree stump. Both have their features painted in black, and their mouths in puce, and are barefooted. The boy's left hand was broken off before the model was glazed and painted and the stump is partly concealed by a black plant resting against his body.

Notes

History note: G. Gouy and Fils, 56 rue Beauvoisine, Rouen, where purchased for 45 francs on 10 January 1907 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Late
19th Century, Early
Circa 1780 - 1810

Note

On purchasing this group, Dr J.W.L. Glaisher believed that it was made at Niderviller, but Bernard Rackham in his 'Catalogue of the Glaisher Collection' reattributed it to Les Isletttes on the basis of a figure of Amphitrite then attributed to Les Islettes in the Victoria and Albert Museum (466-1870). That figure is now attributed tentatively to Eastern France. However, the very bright shades of green and puce on this model, are comparable to those used on tableware made in the Les Islettes factory which operated from 1765 to 1848.

The model was based on a design by François Boucher (1703-70)

School or Style

Rococo