A Meissen commedia dell'arte figure of Pantalone circa 1741

modelled by J.J. Kaendler bending forwards with his hands behind his back beneath his long white coat, also wearing a black skull-cap, iron-red jerkin and breeches and yellow shoes, a dagger to his left side, the base applied with leaves and flowers

S.B.Joel Collection;
Alfred E. Pearson Collection;
his sale in these Rooms, 23rd March 1967, lot 112;
The Property of a Gentleman, sold in these Rooms, 4th June 1974, lot 176

The figure was inspired by an engraving by François Jouillain after Callot, titled 'Pantalon Ancien', published by L.Riccoboni, Histoire du Théâtre Italien, Paris 1728, pl.3 (illustrated by R.Jansen (ed.), Commedia dell'Arte. Fest der Komödianten, Stichfolgen, p.8). The figure derives from the 1741 version of a group of Pantalone and an actress modelled by Kaendler, for which see M.Chilton, Harlequin Unmasked, no.92. Both the group and the single figure were first modelled by Kaendler around 1736. Another example of the 1741 Pantalone is in the Pauls Collection, Basel; published by E.Pauls-Eisenbeiss, German Porcelain of the 18th Century, vol.1, p.288f.