THE MEISSEN FIGURE CIRCA 1750, THE FLOWERS MAINLY 18TH CENTURY

The charming combination of a Meissen figure of a boy playing the bagpipes, with porcelain flowers, ormolu foliage and a Japanese lacquer bowl, is typical of the amusing confections created by the luxury goods merchants in Paris, the marchands-merciers. These specialist merchants occupied a unique role in the Paris art market, as they enjoyed a monopoly over the importation and trade of non-perishable goods of all kind, but were prohibited from manufacturing anything. Thus they controlled the import of all the exotic wares coming from the Orient which they were able to combine in ingenious ways with European wares such as porcelain and ormolu. They commissioned a variety of craftsmen to create charming objects such as this chamberstick for their sophisticated clients to satisfy their constant thirst for novelty.