The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.

The pug-dog has some slight (minor) chipping to its left ear. Two of the gentleman’s right fingers are lacking, and there is a chip to the hem of his long-coat at the back. Nearby there are some slight firing cracks to the lower left part of his long-coat, her cape and the plinth she is seated on – all of these are minor, and date from the time of manufacture. A large firing crack (dating from the time of manufacture) runs across the base, through the block of stone the gentleman is seated on, through her waist and down her skirt (past the pug’s hind leg) to the base – this crack is dirt-filled and does not appear to be a break. In addition, there is a very slight short firing crack below her left eye, and there is some minute chipping and flaking to the flowers and foliage.

An XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) test was carried out by The Centre for Archaeological and Forensic Analysis at Cranfield University, confirming that the enamels on this object are consistent with the published data for enamels on other Meissen porcelain dating from the 19th Century.