Union Porcelain Works Parian Porcelain American Figurine

This is a superb figurine made of parian porcelain by Union Porcelain Works in the last quarter of the 19th century. The official title of this piece is "Chinese Argument" and it was likely designed by Karl Mueller. The company was founded in the 1860's by a Mr. Smith and was around until the 1920's. They made mostly useful wares like teasets and vases and a few busts and plaques. Figurines are extremely rare. A lot of their pieces had a patriotic or historical theme many of which were modeled by the German artist Karl Müller . The theme of this piece is a very daring social commentary on the treatment of the negro and chinaman at that time. It reflects the debate surrounding the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which virtually ended Chinese immigration until 1943. Chinese immigration to the United States began in earnest with the California Gold Rush of 1848. After the completion in 1869 of the transcontinental railroad, largely built by Chinese workers, and an economic downturn in the 1870s, many Americans began to resent competition for scarce jobs. Anti-Chinese riots and overt discrimination culminated in 1882 with the passage of the act. Although this figural group incorporating 19th century stereotypes has been interpreted as a statement in support of Chinese exclusion, it is more likely a cry against it. A child wearing the cap of liberty shares the American eagle’s nest with a black child, who, though included, is pressed down, and the Chinese man’s attempt to join them is clearly futile.This is one heck of a figurine and lots going on in it: The boy wearing the liberty cap has his arm around the eagle symbolizing America and is sitting on the colored person to keep him from reaching the eagle. The chinaman is climbing up the side of the nest to reach America and take his part of the pie sort of speak. A very good representation of the politics going on at the time of the late 19th century. Also on the sides in the holes of the stump are different animals - one might be a bear and one a rodent but it's hard to tell. The piece is superbly modelled and in great condition. A bit dirty which is normal on unglazed porcelain and a few firing cracks but no chips, etc. The piece is solid and weights about 12 pounds which is a lot for any porcelain figurine. It looks like it was turned on a potting wheel and seems to be carved out of a solid block of porcelain. The bottom has the lines from turning and one large hole. The figurine is superb! It is 11.5 inches tall and the bottom is 7.5 inches in diameter. There are three others in existance - two in museums (Brooklyn and another one I forget) and one in the top private collection from what I hear. Please email me for more information or other pictures.

A little side note which I found interesting is on that cap. It is called the Phrygian cap and it is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. Originally a cap worn by priest, it came to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty in the Roman west and is sometimes called a liberty cap.