Surveys ceramic activities in China, at Meissen, and in the soft paste manufactories of northwest Europe and indicates how they influenced English porcelain modelling. Discusses the discovery and composition of soft paste and the methods by which the porcelain figure was constructed. Provides historical summaries of the English 18th century factories concerned with figure production, followed by descriptions of paste and glaze, modelling characteristics, enamel colors, etc. The decline of the porcelain figure is discussed and certain practical aspects concerning reproductions, fakes, restoration, etc. are considered. Appendices includelists of models together with brief descriptions, sizes, and where they are illustrated, marks found on figures, a survey of the Italian Comedy, and characters based on Greek and Roman mythology. -- AATA