Harlequin Family
Manufacturer
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory
(German, founded 1710)
Modeler
Johann Joachim Kändler
(German, 1706 - 1775)
CultureGerman
OriginMeissen, Dresden, Germany
DateApril or May 1738
MediumHard-paste porcelain with overglaze enamels, gilding
DimensionsOverall: 18.6 x 10.1 cm (7 5/16 x 4 in.)
MarkingsNone
DescriptionThe group shows Harlequin and Columbine standing together with their child on Columbine's arm, all on an irregular white pad base. Harlequin stands with one foot in front of the other, looking at his wife with a laughing expression as he puts his right arms around her. He clasps the child's hand in his left hand. Columbine holds the child on her right arm and turning towards her husband, holds up a pair of pince-nez in front of his face. The child holds his tricorn hat onto his head with his left hand and looks at his father who holds his other hand.
Harlequin's features are strongly modelled; he laughs with his mouth open and his eyes slanting. He wears a tunic with a diamond pattern in red, turquoise, yellow and white, the cuffs lined in mauve, gold buttons and trimming, and a white ruffle at the neck and wrists. His trousers have a similar diamond pattern in green, mauve, yellow and white and are hemmed in gold. Round his waist is a black belt with his slapstick thrust through it/ His black hair is covered by a yellow hat, its brim turned back and trimmed with a blue rosette and two feathers.
Columbine wears a mauve and black bodice with gold edging over a low-neck white blouse. She wears an iron-red skirt and over it she has on a white apron. Her dark hair is drawn into a knot at the back of her head and bound with a red ribbon and partly covered by a small tricorn hat trimmed with two mauve feathers and gold braiding. Her high-heeled shoes are mauve with turquoise bows.
The child is dressed like Harlequin in a long-sleeved tunic and trousers with a diamond pattern of mauve, green, yellow and white, and with a white ruffle round his neck. His hat is red with a white rosette and gold braiding; his shoes are black.
The white base is applied with flowers and leaves in tones of red, blue, yellow and turquoise.
Harlequin's features are strongly modelled; he laughs with his mouth open and his eyes slanting. He wears a tunic with a diamond pattern in red, turquoise, yellow and white, the cuffs lined in mauve, gold buttons and trimming, and a white ruffle at the neck and wrists. His trousers have a similar diamond pattern in green, mauve, yellow and white and are hemmed in gold. Round his waist is a black belt with his slapstick thrust through it/ His black hair is covered by a yellow hat, its brim turned back and trimmed with a blue rosette and two feathers.
Columbine wears a mauve and black bodice with gold edging over a low-neck white blouse. She wears an iron-red skirt and over it she has on a white apron. Her dark hair is drawn into a knot at the back of her head and bound with a red ribbon and partly covered by a small tricorn hat trimmed with two mauve feathers and gold braiding. Her high-heeled shoes are mauve with turquoise bows.
The child is dressed like Harlequin in a long-sleeved tunic and trousers with a diamond pattern of mauve, green, yellow and white, and with a white ruffle round his neck. His hat is red with a white rosette and gold braiding; his shoes are black.
The white base is applied with flowers and leaves in tones of red, blue, yellow and turquoise.
Credit LineGift of George and Helen Gardiner
Object numberG83.1.910
Classifications
European CeramicsSub-classification
German PorcelainStatus
On view
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