A rare Coalport Parian group of a cat and monkey

A rare, very early small Parian group of a cat and a monkey in dance dress by Coalport c. 1840 -45.

The finely detailed figure shows the loving couple with their arms around each other.  

Height 20cm (8”)

The figure is illustrated in Geoffrey Godden, Coalport and Coalbrookdale Porcelains (Antique Collectors Club 1981), page 269 pl.176. We understand that this was the only figure illustrated in William Hedley's Coalport sales pattern book (pl.227A). A copy is in the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

Coalport reproduced this figure, albeit modelled with much less detail and some differences to the pose, in AD 2000 in a limited addition of five hundred called “Beauty and the Beast”. The information accompanying the modern figure states that the inspiration for the piece was probably Fable XIV by John Gay.

Condition: graze to one cat's ear; roughness to coat, otherwise excellent