A PAIR OF BUEN RETIRO WHITE BISCUIT PORCELAIN MODELS OF SPHINXES

These sphinxes share characteristics, particularly in the modelling of the body and paws, with sphinx and lion models made at the Buen Retiro manufactory (see Carmen Manueco Santurtún, et al., Manufactura del Buen Retiro 1760-1808, Exhibition Catalogue, Madrid, 1999, p. 501, no. 111 for an example of a lion and p. 514, no. 213 for a sphinx). The modelling of the faces of this pair is also closely related to that seen on a series of white biscuit Greek muses and goddesses made at the same factory in the late 18th and early 19th century.