In the 1740s the Meissen modeller J. J. Kaendler devised a wide range of porcelain figures for table decoration. The most popular were probably characters from the Italian Opera. This was a popular satirical travelling theatre, from which the miniature Punch and Judy developed in the 1800s. The colourful figure of Harlequin could be displayed in many postures and guises.
Physical description
Hard-paste porcelain figure of Harlequin propped against a tree stump, his face with a mischievious expression as he pulls the tail of a complaining pug dog held under his left arm as if winding the handle of a hurdy-gurdy, painted in enamel colours and gilded.
Place of Origin
Meissen, Germany (made)
Date
ca. 1740 (made)
ca. 1740-1741 (made)
Artist/maker
Kändler, Johann Joachim, born 1706 - died 1775 (modeller)
Meissen porcelain factory (manufacturer)
Materials and Techniques
Hard-paste porcelain, painted in enamel colours and gilded
Marks and inscriptions
'I'
Dimensions
Height: 17.1 cm, Width: 10.6 cm
Descriptive line
Figure of Harlequin, hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt, modelled by J. J. Kaendler, ca. 1740-41, made by Meissen porcelain factory, Germany, about 1740.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 185177260X
Jansen, Reinhard, ed. Commedia Dell'Arte, Fest der Komödianten, Keramische Kostbarkeiten aus den Museen der Welt with essays by Ulrich Pietsch, Meredith Chilton, Reinhard Jansen, Samuel Wittwer etc. Catalogue of the exhibition held at Schloss Charlottenburg and the Bröhan Museum, 2001, together with separate summary in English and booklet of source prints. Stuttgart: Arnoldsche, 2001
See no. 13, 42 p. for another example of the same model in the Alter Bestand Staatliche Kunstsammulungen Dresden
Rafael, Johannes Zur "Taxa Kaendler", Keramos 203/204, 2009 pp. 25-69, including a full transcription of the 'Taxa' and parallel text in German and English. Keramos is the quarterly magazine of Ceramics Society of Düsseldorf, editor, Dr. Alfred Ziffer, January-April, Deggendorf, 2009
See p. 46 for entry no. 6 in the 'Taxa': '1 theatrical figure holding a dog in lieu of a hurdy-gurdy under his arm, in the act of playing it.....2 Thlr'. The Taxa is a list entitled 'Taxa of new models produced and delivered to the Royal Porcelain Manufactury in Meissen by Herrn Modell-Meister Kändler since anno 1740', together with the price received by Kändler from the factory for each model.
Materials
Hard paste porcelain
Techniques
Painted; Moulded; Gilded
Subjects depicted
Harlequin; Commedia dell'Arte
Categories
Porcelain; Ceramics; Figures & Decorative ceramics
Collection code
CER
