These portrait busts in wax were made Samuel Percy, a successful and prolific wax modeller of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Wax portraits became fashionable in the 18th century and they were an attractive adornment for private cabinets. This set of eight historic portraits depicts major figures of the English Civil War: General Lambert, Oliver Cromwell, General Ireton, Sir Thomas Fairfax, General Fleetwood, Charles II, Marquis of Montrose and Hyde Lord Clarendon. Each portrait is mounted individually and labelled and the set is mounted on a black stained ground within a glazed rectangular gilded hanging display case with a projected and reeded front.