An extremely rare Chelsea porcelain model of a Child’s Head from the Collection of Thomas Burn of Rous Lench Court, Worcestershire. The porcelain paste dates from the late Triangle early raised anchor period. Modelled after Francois Duquesnoy, slightly turned to his left and tilted downwards, his lips parted and hair tousled.

Only five other models of this child’s head appear to be recorded:

1. The collection of Lord and Lady Fisher, illustrated in ‘English Pottery and Porcelain, the catalogue of the English Ceramic Circle Exhibition, May 4- June 10 1948, pl 54, no 255.
2. Another in the Collection of Dr and Mrs Bellamy Gardner, sold Sotheby’s, London, 12 June 1941, subsequently in the Miss Margaret MacHarg collection and then Lord Slender collection.
3. Another from the property of Sir Bernard Eckstein, sold Sotheby’s 29 March 1949 also at one time Lord Boston’s Collection, then James MacHarg collection, sold Sotheby’s 22 May 1962, now at Ramsbury in the H J Hyams collection.
4. Another sold Sotheby’s property of a gentleman, 30 October 1962, subsequently property of an Australian Collector sold Christies 7 June 1994
5. Another Ex Bernard Watney Collection Sold by Brian Haughton Gallery.

Provenance:

1. Rous Lench Collection No. 341 Chelsea
2. Chelsea China Exhibition Royal Hospital Chelsea Festival June – July 1951

Private English Collection

According to Elizabeth Adams “Chelea Porcelain” P. 31 in the early part of the seventeenth century the Flemish sculptor, Francois Duquesnoy, spent most of his life in Italy and was popularly know as ‘Il Fiammingo’.