Bidspirit auction | 4 Derby Figures of Continents

4 Derby Figures of Continents as Seasons ca. 1780 - Derby, England. Group of four figures of the putti emblematic of the continents as seasons, ca. 1780. Each named in gilt on a rocaille molded base. ”Europe” as ”Spring” depicted standing before attributes of European peasants and holding flowers. ”Africa” as ”Summer” depicted wearing an elephant helmet standing with a lioness and holding a cornucopia of flowers and wheat. ”Asia” as ”Fall” and standing with a recumbent camel holding a bunch of grapes in the left hand and a goblet in the right. ”America” as ”Winter” standing on a crocodile and wearing a feathered headdress and lion cloth. Patch marks visible along the bases. Provenance: The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. (Africa & Europe, each) Height: 9 1/2 in x width: 5 in x depth: 4 1/2 in. (Asia & America, each) Height: 9 1/4 in x width: 5 in x depth: 4 1/2 in. Condition: To the ”America” figurine, there are signs of restoration throughout, particularly to the figure's right arm, left hand, upper area of the right leg, extreme edges of the toes, the tail of the alligator, the floral garments, and the applied foliate elements. There are small chips and losses, primarily along the foliate elements and to the end of the bow clutched in the figure's left hand. To the ”Europe” figure, there are signs of restoration along the figure's right hand, crown, the flower held in the left hand, the paintbrushes and triangle-shaped object along the right side of the base, and to the applied foliate elements. Some small chips and losses to the applied foliate elements. Large firing flaws along the underside of the base of this figure. To the ”Asia” figurine, there are signs of restoration to the figure's right hand, the animal's left ear, and the applied foliate elements, including the flowers along the figure's crown and in the left hand. There is a hairline crack along the animal's tail. There are a few firing flaws along the animal's back. Some small chips to the applied foliate elements. There is a small loss along the verso of the base. To the ”Africa” figure, there are signs of restoration to the figure's crown, particularly the elephant's trunk, the lobster in the right hand, the bouquet in the left hand, the verso of the figure's garments, and to the applied foliate elements. Some small chips and losses to the applied foliate elements. To each of the figurines, there are some scattered areas of crazing to the glaze.