Lot Essay
This group is inspired by two characters in Charles Simeon Favart's play la Fête au château, which was a story of the convalescence of the daughter of Mme de Mauconseil. It was first performed at La villa de Bagatelle and became so popular that it was performed four times at Versailles and once at the Trianon. The group represents the scene when the gardener Jacquot rediscovers his lover Colette. It forms a pendant with 'La Fée Urgèle' (see the following lot), and the first biscuit figure was sold for 144 livres.
See Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766 Musée National de Céramique Sèvres November 2001 - February 2002 Exhibition Catalogue (Paris, 2001), pp. 156-157, no. 87a and b for another example and the terracotta original. An example from the Elizabeth Parke Firestone Collection (Part I) was sold by Christie's New York on 21st March 1991, lot 144.
See Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766 Musée National de Céramique Sèvres November 2001 - February 2002 Exhibition Catalogue (Paris, 2001), pp. 156-157, no. 87a and b for another example and the terracotta original. An example from the Elizabeth Parke Firestone Collection (Part I) was sold by Christie's New York on 21st March 1991, lot 144.