A Meissen group of Pantalone and a lady circa 1745

modelled by J.J. Kändler, Pantalone bending towards his seated companion who strokes his beard, wearing a black skull-cap, iron-red cloak decorated with black flowers and lined in grey, a turquoise waistcoat and black breeches, a dagger to his left side, his companion wearing a blue bonnet, blue cloak, puce bodice and salmon-pink skirt with gilt and black flowers, the base applied with leaves and branches

This group was modelled by Kändler in 1736, reworked in 1738, and completely renewed in 1741. Kändler's work notes of July 1741 record: "Ein Cropgen dem Pantaleon vorstellend Nebst einem bey sich habenden Frauen Zimmer Völlig erneuert ... Weiln die Forme vorhero gänztl. ruiniret und unbrauchbar worden [a group depicting Pantalone next to a figure of a woman, completely renewed ... because the previous form was completely ruined and became unusable]."

See M. Chilton, Harlequin Unmasked, no.92, for a similar group and a list of other published examples, and I. Menzhausen, In Porzellan verzaubert, pp.124f. for another example as well as the earlier version, both in the Pauls Collection, Basel. Another example was sold in these Rooms, 2nd June 2005, lot 24.