18th Century Derby Porcelain Manufactory Pair Of Wild Boars C.1755 Soft Paste
Buckland, United Kingdom
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Dimensions
Wear Condition
Good
Material
Porcelain
Style
Antique
Product Details
Description
A very rare pair of early Derby soft-paste porcelain wild boars, recorded by Bradshaw as model B1, “Wild Boars – one sitting, the other trotting”, dating to c. 1755. Comparable examples are held in the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the model is recognised as a key work of the earliest Derby “dry-edge” period. Described as “probably the most familiar of all dry-edge models”, the group belongs to the experimental phase of production (circa 1750–1755), when the heavy soft-paste body remained unstable and the modelling retained a direct, sculptural force.
The design derives from the Florentine boar type after Pietro Tacca’s interpretation of the antique marble in the Uffizi, widely known through the bronze “Il Porcellino” created shortly before 1634. As noted by Haskell & Penny, such models were widely reproduced in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Bradshaw records that the seated figure follows this source, likely based on small marble or bronze copies circulating in England, including examples in aristocratic collections such as Chatsworth, the Derbyshire seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, where Grand Tour sculpture brought back from Italy by English collectors was displayed and studied.
The present pair displays all defining features of early “dry-edge” production: bold modelling with compact bodies and expressive heads, restrained decoration with brown brushwork, pale pink snouts and ears, black hooves, and simple applied flowers and foliage. The bases correspond to the documented type of steep mounds or irregular pads, sometimes with minimal ornament such as leaves, flowers or acorns. The undersides are unglazed and pierced with ventilation holes.
The applied flowers are of particular importance. A pair of boars is recorded in William Duesbury’s account book under the name “Michill”, priced at five shillings (a meaningful sum at the time, equivalent to roughly £850 today) on October 1752, placing the model within the earliest commercial activity of the Derby enterprise.
Rarely found as a true pair, these “Wild Boars” represent one of the most recognisable and historically important sculptural models of early Derby porcelain, combining documented early production, Grand Tour origin and strong sculptural presence.
Measurements
Boar 1 (seated): weight 520 g, height 10 cm (3.9″), length 15 cm (5.9″), depth 8 cm (3.1″)
Boar 2 (trotting): weight 562 g, height 10 cm (3.9″), length 14 cm (5.5″), depth 8.5 cm (3.3″)
Condition report:
Both figures are in excellent antique condition. As expected for heavy early soft-paste porcelain of this date, both show firing cracks and kiln-related lines caused during manufacture. One boar has a small chip to one tusk. Otherwise, both remain very well preserved.
Wear Condition
Good
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Additional Delivery Info from Seller
Estimated delivery time
Less than one week
Free collection available
Yes
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Reviews
5.0
Based on 4 reviews
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 12/02/2026
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14-day return guarantee
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Flat-fee return shipping on UK furniture
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| Order Value (£) | Fee (£) |
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| 0 — 49.99 | 2.75 |
| 50 — 99.99 | 5.50 |
| 100 — 199.99 | 11.00 |
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| 400 — 599.99 | 30.00 |
| 600 — 799.99 | 40.00 |
| 800 — 999.99 | 50.00 |
| 1,000 — 1,499.99 | 55.00 |
| 1,500 — 1,999.99 | 60.00 |
| 2,000 — 4,999.99 | 82.50 |
| 5,000+ | 110.00 |
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