CIRCA 1670-1685, PROBABLY LONDON

Figural sculpture in English delft is extremely rare. Only four complete groups of lovers in English delft are known: the present example, previously in the collection of Louis L. Lipski and one with Jonathan Horne in 1996 (Jonathan Horne, op. cit., March 1996, no. 449) are from the same mold. From a slightly variant mold come the 'bleu Persan' group at the George R. Gardiner Museum, Toronto [G83.1.0449] excavated in Soho, London and acquired from Robert Williams, 1981; and one advertised by Jonathan Horne in the Art Quarterly, no. 12, Winter 1992. Two fragments are also known - the upper portion from the same mold as the present example excavated in 1989 from a 17th century context in Boston (John C. Austin, British Delft at Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1994, p. 18, fig. 10.) and that excavated in Southwark, London (Frank Britton, London Delftware, London, 1987, p. 139) - these finds confirming a London source and a contemporary American colonial destination for these charming works of art.

For a related figure of Apollo on a spreading rectangular base initialed 'E.C.' and dated 1679, see Thomas Burn, Rous Lench Court; Sotheby's, London, 1 July 1986, lot 31.