Dancing Harlequin

Manufacturer Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (German, founded 1710)

ModelerModelling attributed to Peter Reinicke (German, 1715 - 1768)

ModelerProbably by Johann Joachim Kändler (German, 1706 - 1775)

CultureGerman

OriginMeissen, Dresden, Germany

DateApril 1744

MediumHard-paste porcelain with overglaze enamels, gilding

DimensionsOverall: 14.7 x 8.1 x 5.7 cm (5 13/16 x 3 3/16 x 2 1/4 in.)

MarkingsTraces of crossed swords in underglaze blue. Incised X Model no. 454

DescriptionMeissen dancing Harlequin, with his face turned to the right. The figure stands on the right leg, the left raised at an angle in a dance step. The right hip is thrust out, and his right arm is bent sideways and upwards, the hand almost touching the face. He holds the brown slapstick in his left hand. He wears a turquoise hat with a pointed crown and gold rim. Around his neck he has a white ruff and a short-skirted tunic, gold edged and with gilt buttons, and a black belt round the hips. The right side of the front is decorated in a long, wavy, lozenge pattern in puce, turquoise, black, yellow and blue. The left side of the front is decorated in a fish-scale pattern in puce. The right back is iron-red, while the left back is white. The front of the right arm is decorated in puce and black playing cards on a white ground, while the back of the sleeve is black. He has white breeches with puce rosettes, white stockings, yellow shoes with iron-red heels and gold buckles. The short cape is black, lined with pale yellow. He stands on a pad base, set with dark blue flowers and green leaves.

Credit LineGift of George and Helen Gardiner

Object numberG83.1.935

Classifications

European Ceramics

Sub-classification

German Porcelain

Collections

Status

On view