Object Description
Two Royal Worcester porcelain bird models of a kingfisher and a thrush
English, c.1950
Thrush: Height 12cm, width 11cm, depth 6cm
Kingfisher: Height 8cm, width 11cm, depth 7.5cm
Made by the renowned Royal Worcester porcelain manufactory in around 1950, the two charming bird models come from the collection of Henry Sandon (b. 1928). Previously appearing on the Antiques Roadshow, Sandon is an antiques expert and an authority in the field of Royal Worcester porcelain. Both bird models are designed by Eva Soper (1901-1991) who collaborated with the English porcelain manufactory in the 1930s and 1940s. She applied her expert knowledge of wild British birds to the numerous porcelain models she designed, like the ones in Mayfair Gallery’s collection.
The first figure is of a thrush perching atop an oak tree branch from which acorns are growing. Its body is hand-painted in shades of brown, its underbelly is patterned to reflect the bird’s real-life appearance. With a beak wide open, the bird appears as if it is singing.
A kingfisher in action is wonderfully depicted in the second figure. With a fish in his beak, it seems as if the bird just caught the fish, one of its main food sources. Vibrantly painted in shades of orange and blue, the bird sits atop a grey rock.
This sweet set of figures would make a delicate yet eye-catching decoration in an interior scheme.
Provenance: Henry Sandon Study Collection