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This trio of Chinese porcelain female musicians are a fascinating find!
They are a colorful group, dressed in flowing kimonos with long, elegant sleeves, and the delicate transferware patterns between various parts of their dress make for delightful contrasts and harmonies. Two of the figures are standing, while the third--clearly the most important given her more dramatically colored and ornate trim on the neckline of her kimono--is seated. The three share very similar faces and delicate fringed \"hair\" around their faces, but their hairstyles vary. One wears her black hair parted into two side buns; one has a single side bun; and one has a side style that resembles a bow or a flower.
I am of a mixed mind as to figuring out just when these were manufactured. There is some authority that places figurines marked with just \"CHINA\" stamped into the base to have a production era from 1890 to 1919. Two of the figurines have this marking. The third has just the word \"CHINA\" stamped in red ink, which another view places around 1940.
In either case, these demure ladies are honestly old and in very good condition for their age. I have not found any nicks or cracks or signs of crazing. However, there are occasional small areas where the glaze that contains the repetitive toile-like transferware patterns has come off. And as you can see in the photos above, the black paint or enamel that constitutes their hair has borne the brunt of the wear over the years.
A nice addition to your collection of vintage Chinese porcelain figurines!
