Turkey, England, and France

White earthenware figure group moulded in three parts and pearlware glazed. Painted underglaze in cobalt blue and black and with black, grey, brown, red, orange, blue, green, pink and flesh-pink enamels, and gilt. Three well-coloured figures stand side by side, clasping hands, on a base inscribed 'TURKEY ENGLAND FRANCL' (sic). On the left, the Sultan wears a blue tunic, an orange turban and belt, white trousers and black shoes. In the middle, Victoria wears a gilded crown and a gown with blue bodice, ermine cape and a full white skirt, the latter edged with two rows of finely painted floral decoration in green, blue, red and dark pink. On the right, Napoleon III is bare-headed; he wears a short blue military jacket with white sash and epaulets, an orange belt; white breeches; and shiny black boots. All the clothing is richly decorated with gilt. The men have black hair, moustaches and beards. Victoria has long brown hair and youthful features. The base is rectangular, extending to an oval at the back; the inscription is in raised gilded capitals above a gilt line which dips down at the ends. The underside is concave and glazed, with a central vent hole. The back is decorated only above the shoulders, the remainder flat and marked with a criss-cross pattern of indentations in the clay.