Bisque Girl Cart Vase

WHITE BISQUE PORCELAIN FIGURAL GROUP - GIRL WITH A FLOWER CART, HOLLOW CART FORMS A SMALL VASE OR PLANTER Matte white bisque porcelain figural group of a young girl in a bonnet, short-sleeved dress, and boots, standing at the handle of a two-wheeled garden cart on a shaped rectangular plinth base. The cart body is molded as loosely draped cloth or overlapping petals and is open at the top, forming a small vase or planter well, with a large spoked rosette wheel at the side. Gilt highlights remain on the wheel rim, the cart shaft and handle, the girl's bonnet edge, collar, and sleeve trim. The gilding is heavily worn and rubbed to bare bisque over most of the raised areas, with only broken traces left. The base carries an impressed four-digit number that reads as "1946," though it may be "1949" and cannot be read with certainty - most likely a mold number rather than a date; no maker mark, backstamp, or country stamp is visible anywhere, so no maker is claimed. The hollow, unglazed underside carries a period pencil inscription reading as "my [grand]dad gave me ... 1916," of which only the words "my," "gave," "me," and the year "1916" can be read with confidence, along with old yellowed glue or adhesive residue running across the base interior and four green felt pads. Flaws include the heavy gilt loss, small chips and flake losses along the base edge and at the underside rim, roughness at the molded cart rim, grey soiling and darkening settled into the recesses, and faint surface lines on the base that should be studied closely in the photographs. Description Form: figural group, standing girl at the handle of a two-wheel cart, on a shaped rectangular plinth; cart body open at the top as a small vase or planter well Construction/Finish: unglazed matte white bisque porcelain, hollow, with gilt highlights on the wheel, shaft, bonnet, collar, and sleeves; four green felt pads on the underside Marks: an impressed number on the base edge reading as "1946" or possibly "1949," with no maker mark, backstamp, or origin stamp visible; the underside bears a pencil inscription reading in part "my ... gave me ... 1916" Size: approximately 5 in tall, with a base of approximately 4 in wide by approximately 2 1/2 in deep, per the tape-measure photographs Attribution note Unglazed white bisque figural groups of children with carts, wheelbarrows, and baskets - the hollow element doubling as a small vase, planter, or match holder - were made in very large numbers, first by German and Continental porcelain works in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and later by Japanese and other export makers who copied the same subjects well into the twentieth century. Gilt highlights over matte bisque, an impressed mold number with no factory backstamp, and a hollow open base are all typical of that broad category rather than diagnostic of any one factory. The pencil inscription on the underside, with its "1916" date and its reference to a gift, is a family notation added by an owner and is not a maker's mark; it suggests the piece was in a household by that date, but it is handwriting and cannot be treated as proof of age. The impressed number is likewise more likely a mold or pattern number than a year. Any maker, period, or origin comments are offered as the consignor's photo-based opinion and are not guaranteed. Bid on the item(s) as pictured. Notes for bidders Unglazed bisque is porous and stains readily, so do not wash, soak, or immerse it and do not use soap, bleach, or any liquid cleaner - dirt and water carried into the body will darken it permanently, and staining in matte white cannot be reversed. Dust only, with a soft dry brush worked gently into the drapery and hair. Do not use this as a working planter or put water in the cart well; water will wick into the bisque and stain the exterior. Keep abrasives away from the remaining gilding, which is thin and will lift with almost any rubbing. Lift by the base only, never by the girl, the cart shaft, or a wheel, and pack the thin elements separately if it ships. Leave the pencil inscription alone; it is part of the piece's history and cleaning will erase it. Only the item(s) pictured are included in this lot. Terms Sold as-is, where-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. All sales final. Please ask any questions before bidding. Buyer is responsible for pickup or shipping arrangements per auction terms.