Harlequin Family

Modeled by Johann Joachim Kaendler, Royal Porcelain Manufactory Meissen

Modeled about 1740; Formed and decorated about 1745

See More of the Collection

One of a pair of tall cream-colored, pearlware vases decorated in enamel colors and partially gilt, the gold a dark, brownish color, the small square base with a row of stylized anthemion motifs highlighted in gold, the foot with a border in a modified egg-and-dart pattern likewise picked out in gold, and the lower body of the urn-shaped vase with stylized, individually molded acanthus leaves outlined in gold; the main body of each vase is painted in the round with different delicate and very detailed seascapes that both show a gray and blue cloudy--almost stormy--sky over a choppy turquoise-blue sea, each scene includes a variety of ships with billowing sails, as well as groups of sailors in small row boats attempting to land ashore through rough, foamy waves, the sea also includes debris from the ships floating in the water, above each central scene is a band of overlapping leaves highlighted in gold, and the slender neck includes stylized foliate motifs outlined in gold and a band of beading around the lip; on each vase the two tall, slender, partially-gilt, scrolled handles has a slithery gold snake coiled around it, the snakes' heads rest on the shoulder of the vase.
Frieze tablet of solid light blue jasper with applied white jasper relief decoration of three Dancing Hours figures, all on a thin ground.
Plaque of white Jasper, with blue and lilac dip and applied white relief decoration. The cameo scene depicts 'Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn'. A female figure in flowing classical robes drives a chariot, pulled by two rearing horses, to the right across the sky. She wears a diadem of a rayed sun. One winged putti leads the way with a flaming torch and another flies behind the chariot. They are all surrounded by wispy clouds. Around the edge of the scene is a raised border of olive green, with applied white relief decoration of intertwined rope and small impressed bosses at regular intervals. The plaque, for box decoration, is rectangular with cut off corners and a bevelled and polished edge.
Inkwell of white jasper with dark blue jasper dip and white relief decoration, the body with scenes from the Domestic Employment series in a landscape, the top with a large opening in the center and four smaller openings, three with white relief stiff leaf motifs around them.