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A Meissen group of 'The…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
19-Sep-2023
Lot No.
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Description:
A Meissen group of 'The Indiscreet Harlequin', circa 1742, armorial red wax seal to back of base, modelled by J.J. Kandler, with Columbine seated on Beltrame's lap in an amorous embrace, harlequin at their feet peeping up Columbine's skirt, on a shaped mound base applied with flowers and foliage. Height 15.9 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Avenue Montaigne, Paris, c.1890-1930, Christies, London, 'Centuries of style: silver, European ceramics, portrait miniatures and gold Boxes', 1-2 December 2015, lot 47, the Robert Compton Jones collection, Sydney, Literature Eisenbeiss, E. P, German porcelain of the 18th century, London, 1972, pp. 268-269. Other notes: Bawdy humour was used by the commedia actors to punctuate their performance and this required a mastery of comedic timing. In this group Kandler captured a moment at the height of the comic action when harlequin peeps up the skirt of the distracted Columbine. Meredith Chilton suggests that the group could have been derived from a blend of two separate print sources. The couple's pose could be derived from one of Petrus Schenck's engravings of Columbine seated on Harlequin's lap, taken from a series of twelve engravings, 'Les Amours de Columbine', which show Columbine 'Paired in amorous positions with almost every male member of the troupe'. Harlequin's pose could be based on Gregorio Lambranzi's engraving from 'The new and Eccentric school of theatrical Dancing', where harlequin is shown 'Concealed' on the ground and reaching up 'In order to steal from an unsuspecting blind beggar'. (Chilton, M, harlequin Unmasked, the Commedia dell'Arte and porcelain sculpture, Singapore, 2001, p. 138, fig. 225 and pp. 304-305, where the example of this model in the George R. Gardiner Museum of ceramic Art, Toronto, is also illustrated, no. 93). A similar group was sold at Christie's London on 18 November 2008, lot 121.
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Ceramics: Meissen