Modeled as Thetis being borne away on scrolling waves behind a pair of hippocampi while a triton sounds a horn and a dolphin spews water beneath her, on a shaped and molded base, underglaze blue crossed swords mark. NOTE: The present lot represents just under one half of a large and impressive figure group titled 'Neptune & Thetis' depicting a standing Neptune attended by sea nymphs and tritons and accompanied by the nereid Thetis as they are pulled across the sea by a pair of hippocampi. Large figure groups were often modeled in several smaller components which could be assembled after their initial firing. A complete version of this figure group sold Christie's, October 25, 2007, sale xxx lot 105.