I travelled to see the Head of a laughing child by the Chelsea Porcelain Factory at the Oxford Ashmolean Museum In England. Come join me there too. Welcome to Art, Culture & Travel with me, Anthony King.
The “Head of a Laughing Child” is an early masterpiece from the Chelsea Porcelain Factory, dating back to around 1750. Believed to be part of a pair, alongside a depiction of a crying child, the sculptor’s identity remains elusive. Its counterpart resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Chelsea porcelain, England’s inaugural significant porcelain venture, operated independently until its closure in 1770, when it amalgamated with Derby porcelain. Situated in London’s fashionable Chelsea, it targeted elite clientele, emphasizing opulence. It’s been suggested that the acclaimed sculptor François Roubiliac, born in 1702, a close associate of the Chelsea factory’s owner, Nicholas Sprimont, crafted the piece.
By Anthony King (c)