Charles Gouyn facts for kids
Charles Gouyn (died 1785) was a talented jeweller from Dieppe, France. He came from a family of jewellers, and his own shop was in London, England. Charles Gouyn became well-known for his beautiful porcelain creations and small, decorative items.
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Who Was Charles Gouyn?
Charles Gouyn was a skilled craftsman who lived in the 1700s. He was born in Dieppe, France, and later moved to London. His family had a history of making jewellery, and Charles continued this tradition. His shop in London was called 'at the Turk's Head'.
Starting a Porcelain Factory
Around 1745, Charles Gouyn helped set up a very famous place called the Chelsea Porcelain Factory. He worked with another artist named Nicholas Sprimont. This factory became known for making beautiful porcelain items.
The "Girl-in-a-Swing" Factory
After a few years, around 1748, Charles Gouyn decided to start his own porcelain business. He wanted to create his own unique designs. His new factory became known as the "Girl-in-a-Swing" manufactory. This name came from a special porcelain figure of a girl on a swing, which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
What Did Gouyn's Factory Make?
The "Girl-in-a-Swing" factory made many lovely porcelain figures. They also created small, fancy items like scent bottles. These small objects often had gold or gilded (gold-colored) metal parts. People called these tiny treasures "toys."
Competing with Chelsea Porcelain
Sometimes, the porcelain items made by Gouyn's factory looked similar to those from the Chelsea Porcelain Factory. It seems that both factories might have copied each other's popular designs!
The St. James's Factory
For a long time, people didn't know exactly where Charles Gouyn's factory was located. But in 1993, a researcher named Bernard Dragesco found old records in France. These records showed that many of Gouyn's figures and other items were made in an area of London called St. James's. Because of this discovery, his factory is now often called the St. James's factory.
Unsolved Mysteries
Even with this new information, some things about Charles Gouyn's factory are still a mystery. We don't know the exact address of his workshop. We also don't know the name of the artist who designed his unique porcelain figures.
Where to See His Work
Today, you can see examples of Charles Gouyn's amazing work in several famous museums and collections around the world. These include:
- The British Museum
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Royal Collection Trust
- The National Archives
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
