Rare Royal Worcester Porcelain Figures by James Hadley, Victorian Wind Maidens c. 1865–1878
£1,000.00
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A very rare pair of glazed Parian porcelain figures created at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Factory and modelled by James Hadley as the famous Pre-Raphaelite maidens "Before the Wind" and "Against the Wind". The figures capture flowing movement through dramatic wind-swept drapery, a sculptural concept that defined Worcester's finest Victorian figural porcelain.
Hadley transformed Worcester modelling in the 1860s by introducing naturalistic motion and expressive posture, replacing static classical poses with living movement. The present pair shows these hallmarks clearly in the animated folds of fabric and balanced sculptural composition.
This example is especially notable for its vivid pastel pink and rich green enamels, a short-lived decorative experiment rarely encountered today. The marbled stone-effect bases with gilt rims indicate a higher decorative grade.
Both figures bear impressed Worcester factory marks without lettered date codes, consistent with early production before later standardised year letters.
Highly expressive Hadley modelling combined with this unusually bold pastel colour scheme makes this pair considerably rarer and more collectible.
Dimensions
Pink dress figure: Weight 728 g; height 28.7 cm; width 12 cm; depth 10.3 cm
Green dress figure: Weight 748 g; height 26.5 cm; width 11.5 cm; depth 10.4 cm
Condition
A small chip to the rim of the base on the pink figure. The green figure in excellent condition.
Rare Royal Worcester Porcelain Figures by James Hadley, Victorian Wind Maidens c. 1865–1878
£1,000.00
Hadley transformed Worcester modelling in the 1860s by introducing naturalistic motion and expressive posture, replacing static classical poses with living movement. The present pair shows these hallmarks clearly in the animated folds of fabric and balanced sculptural composition.
This example is especially notable for its vivid pastel pink and rich green enamels, a short-lived decorative experiment rarely encountered today. The marbled stone-effect bases with gilt rims indicate a higher decorative grade.
Both figures bear impressed Worcester factory marks without lettered date codes, consistent with early production before later standardised year letters.
Highly expressive Hadley modelling combined with this unusually bold pastel colour scheme makes this pair considerably rarer and more collectible.
Dimensions
Pink dress figure: Weight 728 g; height 28.7 cm; width 12 cm; depth 10.3 cm
Green dress figure: Weight 748 g; height 26.5 cm; width 11.5 cm; depth 10.4 cm
Condition
A small chip to the rim of the base on the pink figure. The green figure in excellent condition.