19TH CENTURY, WITH FAINT UNDERGLAZE BLUE CROSSED SWORDS

Details

A Meissen-pattern Commedia dell'Arte group of Columbine and Pantalone
19th century, with faint underglaze blue crossed swords
After a model by Johann Joachim Kaendler, gilt and painted in colours, modelled as the seated Columbine wearing; a white bonnet, a yellow-lined green cape, a black bodice with white ruffs and skirt enhanced with Indianische Blumen, holding a scent bottle in her left hand towards Pantalone's face, he standing at her left, leaning forward, wearing; a black hat, a red-lined black cloak, white vest, deep-red breeches and holding his bungling purse, on shaped rockwork base applied with flowers (one finger restored)
17.5cm. high
See illustration

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000 (NLG 198.334). If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the hammer price of a lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

Lot Essay

Cf. E. Pauls-Eisenbeiss, German porcelain of the 18th century, Volume I (London 1972), p.348-351 for other versions.

This group exists in many versions. In the earliest version from 1736, Columbine, the cruel beauty, wards off her suitor, holding up a mirror, so that he may be convinced of his own ugliness. In the later versions of 1741 she sits coquettish and graciously strokes the grey pointed beard of the infatuated scrooge old man, and always holds a mask.
In this version she cruelly holds a scent bottle to remind him of his stench.

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