Punch & Judy Painted Doorstops

A wonderful pair of cold-painted doorstops or door porters in the form of Punch and Judy. They date to around the 1870s to 1880s. Mr. Punch is dressed as a Roman emperor. A cartoon of Punch in similar dress called "Punchius Imperator MDCCCLXXVII" (Emperor Punch 1877), appeared in the Punch Magazine for December 1877. It was drawn by Joseph Swain and shows Mr. Punch dressed as a Roman emperor, leading a triumphal procession from his chariot. It seems very likely that these doorstops date to around the same time. 

These substantial pieces are made of cast iron and both retain their original cold-painted finish. Punch is wearing a laurel wreath round his head, along with a short tunic, military cloak and sandals. Dog Toby is by his side, wearing a ruff around his neck. Judy is dressed in a frilled bonnet and a dress that she is hitching up at the front to show the bottoms of her drawers and her buckle shoes. She is holding the Baby, a miniature version of Mr. Punch. Both figures are standing on plinths painted to simulate black marble. Both are well cast with crisp detail.

Both doorstops are in good condition with minor wear commensurate with their age. The paintwork is largely intact and has a lovely aged patina.