Although the original earthenware group from which this is derived was thought to be by Bernard Palissy, it is now more generally accepted as being of early 17th century French manufacture and probably from Avon.

The group is frequently mentioned in the Chelsea Catalogue of 1755 as 'Nurse and child'. Other examples were sold in these Rooms on 14 November 1960, lot 78, 19 October 1970, lot 119 and 30 May 1990, lot 352 (Rous Lench Collection). Cf. F. Severne Mackenna, Chelsea Porcelain, The Triangle and Raised Anchor Wares, pl. 40, figs. 81 and 82 for a slightly earlier example with a raised red anchor mark; also Reginald Blunt (Ed.), The Cheyne Book of Chelsea China and Pottery, pl. 8, figs. 187 and 188 for two examples in the Fisher Collection