The Indiscreet Harlequin Meissen Group, circa 1742

A Meissen group of 'The Indiscreet Harlequin', circa 1742,…
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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.

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  • Columbine - Columbine is a character from the Italian commedia dell'arte, a form of theatre typified by characters wearing masks, and acting out unscripted performances. There are corresponding characters in French and Spanish theatre.

    Columbine is the mistress of Harlequin, and the wife of Pierrot.
  • School of .... - In the opinion of the cataloguer, a work by a pupil or follower of the artist.
  • Harlequin - The Harlequin is a character from the Italian commedia dell'arte, a form of theatre typified by characters wearing masks, and acting out unscripted performances. There are corresponding characters in the French and Spanish theatre.

    In dress, he is characterised by his hat, mask, and colourful diamond-pattern tunic.

    Columbine is the mistress of Harlequin, and the wife of Pierrot.
  • Armorial / Armourial - Bearing a coat of arms. Coats of arms came into general use by feudal lords and knights in in the 12th century, and by the 13th century, arms had spread beyond their initial battlefield use to become a flag or emblem for families in the higher social classes of Europe. They were inherited from one generation to the next. When a family crest is used on individual items of silver or furniture it is an indicator of the aristocratic standing of the family represented.

    Armorials were also used to decorate mass produced ceramic souvenir ware by such companies as Goss, Carlton & Shelley, and in these cases the coats of arms displayed were of boroughs and cities.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.

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