A Chelsea Derby soft paste porcelain figure of John Milton, the poet depicted next to a classically decorated column on which sits three books and a scroll, overall approx. 12-1/2"H x 6-3/4"W x 5-1/4"D. The mold was created ca. 1765. The white porcelain is hand decorated with a purple color on his cape, life-like color on his face and hands, yellow on the slippers, grey on the hair, red and yellow on the books, aqua on the base, and gilt accents overall. The scroll is lettered in gilt "Into The Heav'n of Heavens I Have Presum'd an Earthly Guest and Drawn Empyreal Air". No marks were found on the bottom. Originally this figurine was produced as one of a pair with a figurine of Shakespeare being the other.
Figures of this type have been made over a long period. They were originally produced in the middle of the 18th century in Chelsea. When this company was in difficulties it was purchased by William Duesbury of Derby and figures made at the end of the 18th century were known as Chelsea-Derby. In the middle of the 19th century the Derby factory was itself in difficulties and closed. Many of the moulds were transported by canal to Staffordshire and purchased by Spode. John Milton (1608-1674) was he famous English poet and author who wrote "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained".
150/250 Sold $540.50
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