Commedia dell'Arte figurine
Figure Group
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This 19th century porcelain figurine of a dancing couple may represent Harlequin and Columbine, the popular lovers from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. It could have been copied from a print of dancers in the roles since the female figure is wearing a skirt of the type known as a 'ballet-length skirt' as it allowed for more freedom of movement than the floor-length skirts worn by ladies at the time.
Porcelain figurines became very popular during the 18th century, especially those representing theatrical subjects. Because of its fragile nature, porcelain was an ideal material for small, delicate sculptures such as this. The Rococo style, characterised by the shape and swirling lines on the base of this figurine, also suited ornately decorated figurines such as this.
Porcelain figurines became very popular during the 18th century, especially those representing theatrical subjects. Because of its fragile nature, porcelain was an ideal material for small, delicate sculptures such as this. The Rococo style, characterised by the shape and swirling lines on the base of this figurine, also suited ornately decorated figurines such as this.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Commedia dell'Arte figurine (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Glazed porcelain |
| Brief description | Figurine of a dancing couple, possibly Columbine and Harlequin. Porcelain, French, 19th century |
| Physical description | Figure group of a couple dancing, she more upright, holding hands with her male partner who is bending low and leaning to his left, his left leg bent and raised. They are on an irregularly-shaped base decorated with flowers and a tree stump. The girl is dressed in an ankle-length white dress with a ruffled collar and three bows on her dress, and yellow bows on her shoes, and he is wearing white trousers, a parti-coloured jacket of ochre on the left side, turquoise with white diamond motifs on the right, a white ruff at the neck and a yellow hat decorated with flowers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Blue mark of a crown above the letter 'V' and the number '3881' |
| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Literary reference | Commedia dell'Arte |
| Summary | This 19th century porcelain figurine of a dancing couple may represent Harlequin and Columbine, the popular lovers from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. It could have been copied from a print of dancers in the roles since the female figure is wearing a skirt of the type known as a 'ballet-length skirt' as it allowed for more freedom of movement than the floor-length skirts worn by ladies at the time. Porcelain figurines became very popular during the 18th century, especially those representing theatrical subjects. Because of its fragile nature, porcelain was an ideal material for small, delicate sculptures such as this. The Rococo style, characterised by the shape and swirling lines on the base of this figurine, also suited ornately decorated figurines such as this. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.897-1981 |
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| Record created | April 7, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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