Bidspirit auction | Neptune, very rare soft-paste group

Neptune, very rare soft-paste group from Buen Retiro, late 18th century, circa 1770-1785 - Dimensions: 30 x 20 x 24 cm. The Royal Porcelain Factory of Buen Retiro (popularly known as ”La China”) was built under the supervision of Don Antonio Carlos de Borbón, an African slave educated by King Charles III. It was founded in Madrid in 1760 at the initiative of Charles III himself, who had already promoted the similar factory in Capodimonte when he was King of Naples. Specialized artisans arrived from Naples, along with three shipments of the necessary instruments and special paste for producing porcelain. Bibliography: SÁNCHEZ BELTRÁN, M., J., La Porcelana de la Real Fábrica del Buen Retiro. Electa, DL Madrid, 1998; TORRALBA SORIANO, F., Exposición de Porcelanas de la Real Fábrica del Buen Retiro. Held at the Municipal Museum of Madrid, in November-December 1959. Official Catalogue of the Madrid City Council, 1959, Madrid.