A PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT PAINTED EARTHENWARE NODDING-HEAD FIGURES

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Canton, first half 19th century

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The figures in unfired, painted clay, the female with floral dress, a fly-whisk and handkerchief, the male is also holding attributes.

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H. 27 cm

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Note:

“Nodders”, Chinese clay figures with movable heads, were made in Canton for export to the West where they were very popular as images of Chinese dresses and customs. They seem to have been made in two sizes; either about 30 cm or 60 cm. The present male, in a formal court dress, and his female are of the smaller size. A considerable number of larger “nodders” were bought for the Prince Regent for his fantasy palace on Asian themes, Brighton Pavilion. But perhaps the largest collection of over eighty “nodders” is in the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.