A truly exceptional and extremely rare porcelaneous chamber candlestick, fully modelled and decorated in the round to depict a pastoral scene of a girl and boy by a river.
The girl kneels by the river with a large jug of water and is offering a cup to a boy who sits easily on a grassy mound nearby. A crook rests on his left arm. Around them, large colourful flowers grow. Next to them, a large tree-like trunk grows, resplendent with climbing plants. At the back of the candlestick, the brown trunk curls to make a handle. The trunk culminates in the sconce of the candlestick, modelled as an elegant, naturalistic flower with bright pink leaves with gilded edges.
It is no exaggeration whatever to say that this candlestick is one of the most incredible products of the Staffordshire potteries. It is surely among the very finest figural works produced by the Dudson Factory. The intricacy of the modelling, the precision of the moulding and application, the natural vividness of depth of the colouring, the delicacy of each feature from limbs to leaves to flowers, the attention to detail - all are peerless among the products of Staffordshire during this period. This is a rare and valuable opportunity to acquire such a phenomenal piece as such candlesticks from the Dudson Factory are extremely scarce and will hardly ever come to market in this condition.
The candlestick is offered in remarkably good condition. Of the tiny, paper-thin porcelain leaves of the various flowers growing up the trunk and on the ground, I can detect only two or three tiny pieces of loss to any petals, scarcely noticeable due to the delicate, wispy quality of the modelling. That so many of these flowers have survived is a true blessing. I can detect no other faults. As ever, I offer the caveat that I may not always be able to detect truly professional restoration, and indeed I cannot find any here, but it would be improper to entirely rule it out. Nevertheless, but for two or three petals missing their tissue-thin tips, this candlestick is as sumptuous and inspiring as the day it was made.
I believe that two such candlesticks were sold at Christie’s (described as ‘Lloyd of Shelton Type’) in the 1990s. A similar chamber candlestick with a different scene is in the Dudson Museum in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Reference: Possibly unrecorded (though a similar example can be found in the Dudson Museum)
Height: 6.5”
Date: c. 1830s
PLEASE NOTE: I have another identical chamber candlestick - the very same but with a different colour scheme and a slightly different layout. I would be very happy to discuss selling them as a pair. Please contact me at sales@rowancottageantiques.com to discuss this.
A truly exceptional and extremely rare porcelaneous chamber candlestick, fully modelled and decorated in the round to depict a pastoral scene of a girl and boy by a river.
The girl kneels by the river with a large jug of water and is offering a cup to a boy who sits easily on a grassy mound nearby. A crook rests on his left arm. Around them, large colourful flowers grow. Next to them, a large tree-like trunk grows, resplendent with climbing plants. At the back of the candlestick, the brown trunk curls to make a handle. The trunk culminates in the sconce of the candlestick, modelled as an elegant, naturalistic flower with bright pink leaves with gilded edges.
It is no exaggeration whatever to say that this candlestick is one of the most incredible products of the Staffordshire potteries. It is surely among the very finest figural works produced by the Dudson Factory. The intricacy of the modelling, the precision of the moulding and application, the natural vividness of depth of the colouring, the delicacy of each feature from limbs to leaves to flowers, the attention to detail - all are peerless among the products of Staffordshire during this period. This is a rare and valuable opportunity to acquire such a phenomenal piece as such candlesticks from the Dudson Factory are extremely scarce and will hardly ever come to market in this condition.
The candlestick is offered in remarkably good condition. Of the tiny, paper-thin porcelain leaves of the various flowers growing up the trunk and on the ground, I can detect only two or three tiny pieces of loss to any petals, scarcely noticeable due to the delicate, wispy quality of the modelling. That so many of these flowers have survived is a true blessing. I can detect no other faults. As ever, I offer the caveat that I may not always be able to detect truly professional restoration, and indeed I cannot find any here, but it would be improper to entirely rule it out. Nevertheless, but for two or three petals missing their tissue-thin tips, this candlestick is as sumptuous and inspiring as the day it was made.
I believe that two such candlesticks were sold at Christie’s (described as ‘Lloyd of Shelton Type’) in the 1990s. A similar chamber candlestick with a different scene is in the Dudson Museum in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.
Reference: Possibly unrecorded (though a similar example can be found in the Dudson Museum)
Height: 6.5”
Date: c. 1830s
PLEASE NOTE: I have another identical chamber candlestick - the very same but with a different colour scheme and a slightly different layout. I would be very happy to discuss selling them as a pair. Please contact me at sales@rowancottageantiques.com to discuss this.
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