A bear in pursuit of a boy. The subject makes for a fun and lively candlestick/spill holder. Continental Europe, first half of the nineteenth century.
I read the two incised letters under the base as “EA”. They might also be read as “CA”. The number “104” was painted in lustre? That’s what it looks like though there is a lot of wear. Have yet to identify the maker. I have seen one other plain white version of this which has the same letters in the reverse order.
Made of a hard paste porcelain body that has been thickly pressed in moulds and assembled. It was glazed with a clear inside and out before the enamels and gilding were applied.
I am stumped as to what the boy is holding in his hand but it seems the focus of the bear’s attention. The bit that is broken off the mystery object was still intact on the other example. My best guess is that it is a piece of honeycomb. Now, is this a bear that climbs trees or not? How scared should this kid be? Wouldn’t want to be in that position myself at any rate.
26 cm in height.
