Man and Woman Polishing Shoes

Derby Porcelain Manufactory, William Duesbury & Co.

1750 - 1780

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Large group of solid white and solid blue jasper with white and green jasper relief, on a stepped blue base the white figure of Minerva as Britannia Triumphant sits atop a globe encircled in blue with the signs of the zodiac, her helmet is plumed and crowned with a sphinx above a wreath of green laurel leaves; Britannia is draped in a classical gown with cape and wears a breastplate with the winged head of Minerva, her left hand supports a blue and white portrait medallion of King George III as a Roman emperor, which rests on her knee, and her right hand is raised -- it originally held a trident; Britannia's sandaled feet rest upon France, represented as a distressed and angry fallen female figure of white jasper holding a torch in each hand (the right hand torch is broken, the flame of the left is partially missing), the watchful white jasper British lion stands at Britannia's right, at her left is the blue and white shield of Great Britain as well as a large white cornucopia overflowing with fruits, vegetables, and grains as symbols of strength, victory, and plenty; behind Britannia are various symbols of war and the British navy, all in white jasper: a cannon and cannon balls, a flag, a ship's prow and anchor, a breastplate, helmet, and sword, a shield, and a quiver of arrows.
Two ash and burl ash armchairs, the cabriole front legs end in small scrolls, the arm supports curve inward and likewise end in small scrolls that function as handholds, the arms lathe-turned, terminating in a carved, stylized anthemion motifs where they meet the stile, the back square and each crest rail is set with three green jasper medallions with classical motifs: .1) "Germany and Turkey with amorini grieving for Elisabeth" (from the 1790 series designed for sale in Germany, most of which celebrate the accession and virtues of Leopold II of Austria, who succeeded his brother Joseph II in January 1790. Elisabeth was the favorite niece of Joseph II, who died in February 1790); (probably) "Cybele, goddess of nature and fertiliy"; sacrificial scene (unidentified); and .2) "Fame inscribing a vase to the memory of Elisabeth" (from the German series); "Hercules strangling the Nemean lion" (modeled by William Hackwood ca. 1773); "Germany and Turkey with armorini grieving for Elisabeth" (from the German series); the striped green silk upholstery new
Small oval medallion of white jasperware with black jasper bas relief of an enslaved African wearing only a loin cloth, kneeling and in shackles, with his hands grasped together, around him the inscription AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?
Blue and white