Very few documentary or dated examples of these interesting 'Chinoiserie' figures have been published. Perhaps the most closely comparable are the several figures in the Peabody Museum of Salem, Asian Export Art Department, presented to the East India Maine Society circa 1803 by Captain Richard Wheatland (1786-1867). They were recorded in the Society's first inventory in 1821, where it was noted that the artisans were 'copied from life and brought from Canton'

Cf. C.L.Crossman, op.cit, pp.316-17 for the nodding-head figures in the Peabody Museum; and on p.315 the painting in the Royal Collection by John Zoffany of Queen Charlotte with her sons, which illustrates two nodding figures. Cf. Also A.Setterwall, op.cit, pp.179-183 for the figures in the Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm. Another figure, with long beard, belonging to Her Majesty the Queen, on loan to the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, is illustrated by P.Conner, op.cit, p.50, no.60
It is now possible to date these somewhat earlier than has traditionally been the case, by reference to the B. Dam-Mikkelsen and Torben Lundbaek, Ethnographic Objects in the Royal Danish Kunsthammer 1650-1800, pp.173-179. The present lot is closely related to the pair of seated figures illustrated p.174, which form part of the group of "twenty-four figures of Chinese burnt clay with colouring, 13 inches high, representing the Emperor and Emperess of China and the whole Imperial household" (sic). They were bought at an auction held by the Danish Asiatisk Kompagni in 1777, and have remaind ever since in the Royal Collections
Cf. also the pair sold in these Rooms, 1 November 1993, lot 174