CIRCA 1760-65, BLUE CROWNED INTERLACED CS MARK

Johann Wilhelm Götz was chief modeller at Ludwigsburg, joining the factory in March 1759. The factory produced no less than four different comedy series by various modellers, two of which are attributed to Götz. These types of figures show characters from the comédie française, which was enjoyed at the Württemberg court. Götz's 'Abbé de cour' belongs to a series of actors of which there are four single figures and a group of two characters. There is some debate over his costume; although he is traditionally thought to be a clergyman, his periwig and habit are more akin to a lawyer, magistrate or scholar. Ducret ibid. points out that only three examples of this rare figure are known; the present lot, the example in the Cecil Higgins Museum, Bedford and the example in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart (inv. no. 1958-17).