Astronomy and Geometry
William Duesbury
Category
Ceramics
Date
1784 - 1796
Materials
Biscuit porcelain
Measurements
160 x 100 x 75 mm
Place of origin
Derby
Order this imageCollection
Clandon Park, Surrey
NT 1441725
Summary
[Saved] Group, ‘Astronomy and Geometry’ from The Seven Groups of Arts and Sciences series. Composed of two winged putti mounted on a mound-shaped base encrusted with flowers, one figure takes a measurement with a pair of divider caliper upon a celestial globe while the other uses a hand held telescope for terrestrial observation, on a flower-encrusted rocky mound.
Full description
Group, ‘Astronomy and Geometry’ from The Seven Groups of Arts and Sciences series. Composed of two winged putti mounted on a mound-shaped base encrusted with flowers, one figure takes a measurement with a pair of divider caliper upon a celestial globe while the other uses a hand held telescope for terrestrial observation, on a flower-encrusted rocky mound. The model introduced by 1771. Note: The series is copied from a Meissen original modelled by the French sculptor Michel-Victor Acier (1736-95) around 1764. In 1773, the Derby factory sale catalogues record that a pair of groups sold for £1.14s.0d.
Provenance
The gift of Mrs Kathleen Stephenson 20 April 2009
Marks and inscriptions
Base: A ‘D’ in script beneath a crown, crossed batons and six dots, model ‘No. 43’ and a triangle for the repairer Joseph Hill.
Makers and roles
William Duesbury, manufacturer after Michel Victor Acier (Versailles 1736 - Dresden 1799), sculptor Joseph Hill (1625-1707), repairer