EARLY 19TH CENTURY

While traditionally associated with the Brighton Pavilion style in the early nineteenth century, the fashion for chinoiserie nodding-head figures was documented in the 1760's and 1770's in England and Continental Europe. The famous Zoffany portrait depicting Queen Charlotte in her Dressing Room at Buckingham Palace painted in 1764 shows two such figures in the background. Similarly, Thomas Sheraton's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholster's Drawing-Book, 1793, pl.31 shows a view of the Chinese Drawing Room at Carlton House with two chinoserie figures placed on a pier table.

A group of related nodding-head figures were sold from the property of David Style, Esq., Christie's house sale, Wateringbury Place, Maidstone, Kent, 31 May-2 June 1978, lots 200-204.