拍品的状况可能存在极大差异,而由于其性质使然,拍品难以处于完美无瑕的状态。拍品均以拍卖时的状况出售。
Overall in good decorative order with minor wear to enamels and occasional minute chip to extremities. Both with small areas of chipping, losses and restoration to applied leaves and flowers.
The example holding a nut with a small patch of clear lacquer to the inner part of its left foreleg at join with paw (the leg does not appear to have been broken through). The end of the last claw on this paw broken and lacking. The black chain links with restoration, over painting and clear lacquer. The last claw on its left foot chipped (possibly at the time of manufacture). Short firing crack to base.
The example with a nut in its mouth -- The front section of base broken and restuck with associated 1 cm. chip to underside. Some clear lacquer (presumably associated to the top of the left rear paw). The back right paw with three claws chipped and partially lacking, the remaining with flaking to enamels. The last claw on the left paw chipped. All but one claw to the front paws chipped and retouched in black enamel. restoration to both ears, broken restored and overpainted (the left ear with minute flakes to overpainting). Its right foreleg broken and restored through 'wrist'. The chain a metal replacement and there is related restoration in the places of fixture, and along the left foreleg.
An XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) test was carried out by The Centre for Archaeological and Forensic Analysis at Cranfield University, confirming that the enamels are consistent with 18th Century recipes.
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