Early Bow Porcelain Figure of Euterpe, the Muse of Music Circa 1750–1754

A very rare mid 18th century Bow porcelain figure depicting Euterpe, the Classical Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry, modelled by the celebrated anonymous sculptor known as the 'Muses Modeller'. Euterpe is shown seated with her right arm resting upon an organ with masked stops above the keyboard, the base inscribed 'Euterpe for the musical instruments'. She holds a large flute or trumpet in her left hand and is accompanied by an array of musical instruments at her feet, including a lute, triangle and pipes.

She wears flowing robes delicately painted in white, pink and yellow, with pale blue-washed cuffs, the instruments and other details carefully picked out in polychrome enamels. The figure displays the refined modelling and expressive character that distinguish the finest productions of the Bow factory during its early years.

A particularly desirable example from one of Bow's most celebrated figure series, combining exceptional sculptural quality with strong historical and iconographic interest.

Height: 15.5 cm

Provenance: Simon Spero, 2018.

                      Mary & Peter White Collection

Although the faint inscription confirms the subject, the wealth of musical attributes unmistakably identifies the figure as Euterpe. Mavis Bimson, in The Missing Muse (ECC Transactions, Vol. 19, Part 3, 2006), considered Euterpe and Erato to be the finest figures within the celebrated Bow Muses series. Comparable examples include the Peter Bradshaw Collection example sold by Bonhams, 24 January 2007, Lot 22, another illustrated by Anton Gabszewicz and Geoffrey Freeman in Bow Porcelain (1982), p.128, no.198, and a white-glazed example from the Mavis Bimson Collection sold by Bonhams, 14 December 2023, Lot 273.

Published: Mary White, People at the Whites' House, Vol. 5, 2024, p.213, fig. a.

Condition: Please request a product sheet.