A Pair Of Large French Chinoiserie Style White Porcelain Figures

A superb pair of large French Chinoiserie-style white porcelain figures. Each figure is modeled standing on an ornate square base with elephant-head supports at the corners and scrolling foliate relief panels along the sides. The figures depict a man and a woman, both dressed in traditional East Asian attire. The male figure wears layered robes secured with a sash, a broad conical hat, and holds a fan in his right hand. At his side hang two swords inserted into the belt. The female figure is shown with her hair arranged in a high chignon, dressed in long flowing robes tied with a sash at the waist. She holds a fan in her left hand while her right hand is raised with fingers positioned in a delicate gesture.The porcelain is executed entirely in white, giving the figures a uniform matte surface typical of biscuit porcelain. The details of the garments, accessories, and facial features are carefully defined, including folds of fabric, knotted sashes, and hair arrangements. Each figure stands directly on a plinth that is integrated into the bases, which are adorned with elephant heads at the corners extending outward as supports. The borders of the plinths feature Greek key patterns around the upper edges, while the main panels display scrollwork in low relief.These figures reflect the French interest in Chinoiserie during the 20th century, when European manufacturers produced porcelain in forms and attire inspired by East Asian models. Large-scale pairs such as these were often created for decorative interiors and are characteristic of French porcelain workshops that specialized in biscuit figures, including Sèvres and other Parisian makers, who favored white porcelain for its sculptural clarity and refined surface.