Milton & Shakespeare Figurines

This is a pair of figurines made by Derby around 1765. One is William Shakespear and the other is John Milton. Two of the best and most famous English poets that ever lived. They are very well modelled and the colors are modestly applied which makes them very elegant and not overbearing. The earlier bases are much nicer than the little bit later, rectangular simple ones. The figurines are in superb condition with few flaws. Shakespeare has some wear to the gold trim, the thumb on his left hand has a crack in it but it was never off, one yellow shoelace is missing, and there is a firing crack underneath that extends into hairlines above the base, a hairline in the yellow book, a little roughness to his cloak rim that are minor and some crazing and minor factory flaws normal to the period. Really in superb shape for his age! Milton has the same wear to the gilding, a loop and lace missing on his left shoe, his left hand was off and is reglued but the break is very smooth, his index finger is missing on that hand, one teeny chip to the base, one small chip to the bottom cloak, one chip to the back edge of the cloak and some firing crack and factory flaws normal to these large and early pieces. Shakespeare is 12 inches tall and 6.375 inches wide while Milton is 12.75 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide. Neither is marked but they have the typical patch marks and are certainly from Derby and this period. The are very close to being a pair and come from the same time period but there are enough differences to say that they might not have started out togther originally. Might have been matched up already at the time of purchase though! Just an impressive pair of figurines from a long time ago! Please email me for more information or other pictures.