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Lot Essay
The present model usually represents the Commedia de;'Arte character Mezzetin. However, with his ruff collar and quartered decoration on his costume, the present musician cannot represent any character other than Harlequin. Indeed, the outer right leg of his trousers is painted with scattered playing cards, the right side of his jacket with a chequerboard or lozenges, decoration traditionally associated with Harlequin.
The dating of the unique decoration on the present figure has been confirmed through qualitative x-ray fluorescence done on the enamels in the conservation science laboratory at Winterthur under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Mass. Zinc as an element used in blue and yellow indicates a 19th century formula for these colors, as does the presence of cobalt in the black. Given the two deep firing cracks at the back of his cloak, it is likely that the present figure remained at the factory in the white only to be sold off and/or decorated in the 19th century.
The dating of the unique decoration on the present figure has been confirmed through qualitative x-ray fluorescence done on the enamels in the conservation science laboratory at Winterthur under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Mass. Zinc as an element used in blue and yellow indicates a 19th century formula for these colors, as does the presence of cobalt in the black. Given the two deep firing cracks at the back of his cloak, it is likely that the present figure remained at the factory in the white only to be sold off and/or decorated in the 19th century.