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An exceptionally rare and early…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
19-Sep-2023
Lot No.
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Description:
An exceptionally rare and early Meissen white porcelain and gilt figure from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, El Capitan, German circa 1720 and Augsburg-gilded soon thereafter. modelled as a standing man in contrapposto pose, wearing elaborate costume with feathered hat, a staff in one hand, a tree-trunk at the rear, set on a square concave sided low plinth, with one foot protruding off the edge; decorated with gilt details including hat, belt, stripes to the pantaloons, staff, garters, and base plinth. Provenance: The Antique Porcelain Company, London / New York / Zurich. Thence: Private Australian collection. Unmasked, p. 292, to be 'most likely the Captain'. Chilton illustrates an Augsburg-decorated example and references approximately eleven other known models, which include examples in the white, with Augsburg-type gilt decoration and with later enamel decoration. Very few comparable have been sold: Sotheby's London 2006 French and Continental Furniture, lot 189, but note the missing arm, missing staff – meaning it was most likely a factory reject, and with later decoration. Another was sold at Christie's in 1986, as part of the Nyffeler Collection. It was complete with the staff, but not gilded. As Meredith Chilton notes, there are only eleven known figures, plus the one she illustrates. Dimensions: 17.5 cm high, base 6.6 cm by 4.4 cm
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified