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Figure

ca. 1750-1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

European ceramic factories began to produce porcelain in the first quarter of the 18th century; after that time, porcelain figures and designs made in Europe became a model and source of inspiration for Chinese export porcelain.

This figure, made at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China, is known as the 'Dutch Dancers'; the original model was made at the Meissen factories by J.F. Eberlein about 1735, although in that example the man does not wear a mask. This group was probably copied from a Chelsea model of about 1755, where the man is masked; the kilns at Bow also made similar figure groups. Commissions of Chinese imitations provided a cheaper option for collectors than purchasing the European original.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain decorated in overglaze enamels
Brief description
Porcelain figure group known as 'The Dutch dancers', China, Jingdezhen, Qing dynasty, ca. 1750-1760
Physical description
Porcelain figure of two dancers painted in overglaze polychrome enamels; one of them wears a mask and a flat hat with feathers.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14cm
Styles
Gallery label
(1987)
Figure Group
Porcelain with decoration in overglaze colours.
About 1745-1750
Known as 'The Dutch Dancers', the original model was made at the Meissen factory in Germany in 1735. The mask on the male dancer was added when the figure was re-issued in the late 1740s.
Basil Ionides Bequest
Credit line
Basil Ionides Bequest
Subject depicted
Summary
European ceramic factories began to produce porcelain in the first quarter of the 18th century; after that time, porcelain figures and designs made in Europe became a model and source of inspiration for Chinese export porcelain.

This figure, made at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China, is known as the 'Dutch Dancers'; the original model was made at the Meissen factories by J.F. Eberlein about 1735, although in that example the man does not wear a mask. This group was probably copied from a Chelsea model of about 1755, where the man is masked; the kilns at Bow also made similar figure groups. Commissions of Chinese imitations provided a cheaper option for collectors than purchasing the European original.
Bibliographic references
  • Craig p. 70, fig. 53.
  • Kerr p.76, pl.106
  • Lu p.260
Collection
Accession number
C.14-1951

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Record createdOctober 2, 2008
Record URL
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