Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A charming pair of large-scale bisque porcelain figurines depicting a young boy and girl in pastoral attire, each cradling small animals. These pieces are characteristic of the high-quality 'piano babies' and decorative figures produced by the Heubach brothers, known for their expressive, lifelike facial features.
Story
Thuringian artisans in the 1890s mastered the art of 'intaglio' eyes to give these figures a soulful, human gaze. These children represent a Victorian ideal of innocence, captured in unglazed porcelain to mimic soft skin.
Maker / Origin
Gebrüder Heubach was a titan of German porcelain, famous for moving away from the stiff, doll-like faces of the era toward 'character' faces with real emotion. Their workshop in Lichte became the gold standard for bisque, winning numerous awards at World's Fairs for their technical realism.
Condition & Value
The figures appear to be in excellent condition with no visible chips to the delicate fingers or animal ears. The paint on the girl's apron remains vibrant; any significant wear to the cold-painted gold accents would slightly decrease the value. Value is driven by the large size and the presence of both figures as a matched pair.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.