The Monkey Orchestra
Manufacturer
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory
(German, founded 1710)
ModelerModelling attributed to
Johann Joachim Kändler
(German, 1706 - 1775)
ModelerModelling attributed to
Peter Reinicke
(German, 1715 - 1768)
CultureGerman
OriginMeissen, Dresden, Germany
PeriodAugustus III (1733-1763)
Datec.1753-1775
MediumHard-paste porcelain with overglaze enamels, gilding
DimensionsOverall (G83.1.675.1): 18 x 6.4 x 14.7 cm (7 1/16 x 2 1/2 x 5 13/16 in.)
Overall (G83.1.675.2): 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. (14 x 9.5 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.3): 5 1/2 x 2 in. (14 x 5.1 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.4): 5 1/2 x 2 15/16 in. (14 x 7.5 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.6): 5 5/8 x 2 1/4 in. (14.3 x 5.7 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.7): 5 13/16 x 2 3/16 x 3 1/8 in. (14.7 x 5.5 x 7.9 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.8): 5 1/2 x 2 3/16 in. (14 x 5.6 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.9): 5 5/16 x 2 1/16 in. (13.5 x 5.2 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.12): 5 1/2 x 2 in. (14 x 5.1 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.14): 5 x 3 in. (12.7 x 7.6 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.15): 4 15/16 x 2 in. (12.6 x 5.1 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.16): 4 7/8 x 2 3/8 x 2 7/16 in. (12.4 x 6 x 6.2 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.17): 5 x 2 7/8 in. (12.7 x 7.3 cm)
Overall (G83.1.675.18): 4 13/16 x 2 11/16 in. (12.2 x 6.9 cm)
MarkingsCrossed swords in underglaze blue
DescriptionMeissen monkey band (Affenkapelle), modeled by Johann Joachim Kaendler. It is comprising of a conductor, thirteen musicians and four singers, each wearing a brightly coloured costume and supported on a scroll-moulded base heightened in gilding and applied with scattered flowers.
The Conductor is wearing a purple and puce chequered coat, a flowered waistcoat and lavender breeched. His arms are raised and is holding a rolled score in his right hand.
The organist (c.1800) is modeled astride another monkey and is wearing a white coat, a pink waistcoat and green breeches.
The Violinist is wearing a lavender tricorn hat applied with a yellow flower, a yellow coat, a pink waistcoat and green breeches.
The hurdy-gurdy player is wearing a white bonnet and a yellow-lined turquoise-green dress.
The guitarist is wearing a black hat and a pleated white collar, with a pale lavender jacket, yellow breeches and a turquoise-green cloak over his shoulder.
The bagpiper is wearing a yellow stray hat, a turquoise coat, a purple vest and yellow breeches.
The flautist is wearing a pale yellow coat and breeches and a puce waistcoat.
The bassoonist is wearing a yellow-plumed turban, a pale lavender-grey coat, a pink waistcoat and yellow breeches, and the base is heightened in puce.
There are two trumpeters with the first wearing a flowered coat and iron-red breeches (c.1765-1766), and the second in a yellow-lined pale puce coat and turquoise-green waistcoat, and each with a sword at his side.
The French horn player is wearing a black tricorn hat, and a white coat and puce breeches.
The drummer is wearing a black tricorn hat, a yellow coat and grey breeches carrying a drum on his left arm and holding two batons.
There is two drum Bearers, each wearing a white shirt and carrying a pair of snare drums on his back, with the first in blue breeches and the second in yellow breeches.
A pair of singers, with the first wearing a beige dress, a yellow bodice and a turquoise-green skirt, and the other is in a pale lavender dress and a yellow skirt. Each is seated on a stool holding a score of music in her right hand and gesturing with the other.
There are two other singers, the first wearing a yellow bonnet, a pink dress with ruffled sleeves and a yellow skirt, and is seated holding a score in her lap. The second is wearing a pale yellow dress and a turquoise-green skirt, holding a score in her left hand.
The Conductor is wearing a purple and puce chequered coat, a flowered waistcoat and lavender breeched. His arms are raised and is holding a rolled score in his right hand.
The organist (c.1800) is modeled astride another monkey and is wearing a white coat, a pink waistcoat and green breeches.
The Violinist is wearing a lavender tricorn hat applied with a yellow flower, a yellow coat, a pink waistcoat and green breeches.
The hurdy-gurdy player is wearing a white bonnet and a yellow-lined turquoise-green dress.
The guitarist is wearing a black hat and a pleated white collar, with a pale lavender jacket, yellow breeches and a turquoise-green cloak over his shoulder.
The bagpiper is wearing a yellow stray hat, a turquoise coat, a purple vest and yellow breeches.
The flautist is wearing a pale yellow coat and breeches and a puce waistcoat.
The bassoonist is wearing a yellow-plumed turban, a pale lavender-grey coat, a pink waistcoat and yellow breeches, and the base is heightened in puce.
There are two trumpeters with the first wearing a flowered coat and iron-red breeches (c.1765-1766), and the second in a yellow-lined pale puce coat and turquoise-green waistcoat, and each with a sword at his side.
The French horn player is wearing a black tricorn hat, and a white coat and puce breeches.
The drummer is wearing a black tricorn hat, a yellow coat and grey breeches carrying a drum on his left arm and holding two batons.
There is two drum Bearers, each wearing a white shirt and carrying a pair of snare drums on his back, with the first in blue breeches and the second in yellow breeches.
A pair of singers, with the first wearing a beige dress, a yellow bodice and a turquoise-green skirt, and the other is in a pale lavender dress and a yellow skirt. Each is seated on a stool holding a score of music in her right hand and gesturing with the other.
There are two other singers, the first wearing a yellow bonnet, a pink dress with ruffled sleeves and a yellow skirt, and is seated holding a score in her lap. The second is wearing a pale yellow dress and a turquoise-green skirt, holding a score in her left hand.
Credit LineGift of George and Helen Gardiner
Object numberG83.1.675.1-.18
Classifications
European CeramicsSub-classification
German PorcelainStatus
On view
Artist / Maker: Meissen Porcelain Manufactory
c.1740-1741; decorated in the nineteenth or twentieth century
Object number: G83.1.942
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760
Object number: G83.1.965.1-.2
Artist / Maker: Longton Hall Porcelain Factory
c.1754-1757
Object number: G83.1.897.1-2
Artist / Maker: Meissen Porcelain Manufactory
c.1740-1745; decorated and possibly made in the nineteenth or twentieth century
Object number: G83.1.943.1-2
