Featured Joseph Gaspard Robert how does one tell the real things?

this is an online example 10" tall but many if not most were made in the late 19th cent. as part of the Paris porcelain group. Is there any way to tell the originals from the repros?

 

I don't know..... but that'a actually very nice !!!

 

JOSEPH-GASPARD ROBERT [mostly on Reproductions made ca late 19thC at Paris Porcelain Workshops, originals are extremely rare] (Marseilles, France) - ca 1770s - 1790s | Antiques

 

yes I know what the mark looks like. I was wanting to know the difference between the originals and the late 19th cent. reproductions.

 

The limited color palette bothers me. Most of the pieces on Wikipedia show a wider range.

 

Oh yes thats very interesting.

 

The details are so fine I can't believe it's a repro. Usually repros haven't got the finer details like this. The face is exquisite. So is the lamb's. His fingers, the lamb's wool, the tree stump - nothing is blurry. If it's a repro it's a darn good one.

 

& the hair , and ruffled sleeves........ I'm no pottie...... but I'd find shelf room for this in a NY minute !!
and the lack of 15 colors.......makes the piece stronger......... imo..

 

The modelling and the detail in painting make this a winner no matter who made it.

 

OK now compare it to this one. This one has a larger color palette no?

 

Yes, that's more what I would expect. There is no denying that the original figurine you posted is well modeled. It's a beautiful piece. i just expected a color palette closer to the second figurine. Also notice the bottom - there are significant differences. The bottom of the second figurine is also more like I would expect of a genuine Robert figurine, but I need to emphasize that I am not an expert in French ceramics from that time period.

 

Hello DGB: what in particular about the bottom? The smudges?

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The manufacturing process was different in the two examples. The first example has a much more open bottom than the second example. And the second example shows a small hole in the bottom which (if I understand correctly) was used to allow heat to escape. The first example would not have needed that hole since the bottom wasn't enclosed. I associate the enclosed bottom with the small hole with older figurines and the open bottom with more modern examples. It's not a hard and fast rule but, in this case, the combination of the color palette and the bottom difference leads me to believe the first example is more modern.

 

The figure above is listed on Etsy, Ruby Lane and Proantic. I also found this figurine with the same palette and the same marking on Etsy. It's listed as him also. It's too bad they photographed it in front of a blue pattern vase because it's harder to see details.

 

Oh I didnt notice the vent hole until you mentioned it. Thanks for pointing that out.