QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1752

This charming figural group, its complexity and delicacy difficult to achieve in clay, was first modelled in 1735 by Johann Friederich Eberlein, and, due to its popularity, was copied in China, as well as at Chelsea, Derby, and Bow. Five damaged Chinese versions of this rare model were amongst the cargo of The Geldermalsen, which sank in 1752; see C. Sheaf and R. Kilburn, The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes, Oxford, 1988, pl.200 (for three), pp.152-154.

A very similar group was sold at Christie's New York, 18 January 2018, lot 87.