An early 18th Century lead figure of a dancing girl with cymbals from the workshops of John van Nost the Elder (1686-1711-1713), previously thought to be 1729. The disputed death date of John van Nost, is an example of the grey areas that surround early lead ornament. The question of authentication of early English lead work is fraught with difficulty. This model of a dancing putto could relate to van Nost's Master, one Arnold Quellin (1653-1686), whose wife, on his passing, van Nost married and indeed this work notwithstanding the possible Low Countries connection to the Larson family, could have indeed been modelled and cast by Andrew Carpenter (1677-1737), he being principal assistant at van Nost's workshops in London's Haymarket.

It is then confusing, also possible, that this work could be a later casting from an early mould by 'the man at Hyde Park Corner' John Cheere (1709-1787) who took over van Nost's business and moulds upon van Nosts's death. All this said, it is most likely that the stylistic similarities to the fighting putti at Melbourne House and the general manner of the piece points firmly towards John van Nost the Elder.

The figure shows a naked, save the 'classic' later applied fig leaf, putti dancing with cymbals, on tip-toe with the body in movement and her head to one side. The figure sports a hairstyle not dissimilar to the other known models by Van Nost.