19th-century R&L Parian bisque portrait bust of Robert Burns for Wylie Hill & Co For Sale

19th-century R&L Parian bisque portrait bust of Robert Burns for Wylie Hill & Co.

The bust depicts Burns as a young man, shown in a loose-collared coat with a ruffled cravat, the fabric folds crisply modeled. He is rendered with wavy, side-swept hair and an upward, contemplative gaze characteristic of Romantic-era portraiture of the poet. His name is molded into the front of the socle base.

The bust is signed R&L inside an oval on the back right shoulder, with the retailer’s mark WYLIE HILL & Co / GLASGOW impressed beneath it on the back of the base. Robinson & Leadbeater was a renowned British pottery firm based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and the mark is consistent with production between 1885–1904. Wylie Hill & Co. was a Scottish department store, and this bust was likely commissioned by the retailer for sale through its store.

Robert Burns (1759–1796) was Scotland’s national poet, celebrated for works such as “Auld Lang Syne,” “Tam o’ Shanter,” and “A Red, Red Rose.” Burns Night celebrations and widespread Victorian enthusiasm for Scottish literary heritage kept his likeness in continuous demand throughout the 19th century, making him one of the most frequently reproduced subjects in Parian ware. Burns’s status as Scotland’s national poet made him an enduringly popular subject for R&L, and the Glasgow retailer’s mark reflects the strong regional market for his likeness.

Measurements:
Height 6 inches
Width 4 3/4 inches
Projection 2 1/4 inches

Condition:Overall very good condition. Minor chipping on lower left back side of base, some light marking on face. See photos for details as they are part of the description.