A RARE MEISSEN GROUP OF HARLEQUIN AND COLUMBINE CIRCA 1743

Röbbig München, bearing label

Kändler notes in his Taxa, or work records, between 1740 and 1748: '1. dergl. (Groupgen) aus 2. Figuren bestehend, da ein Arlequin neben einem Frauenzimmer sizt, solche zu caressi, die ihn mit der Pritzsche schlägt', [1 similar (group) consisting of 2 figures, a Harlequin seated next to a lady, caressing her, she hits him with a slapstick.], Menzhausen, 1993, p. 137. The figure group is mentioned again in Kändler's notes of January 1743: 'Ein Groupgen aus 2 Figuren bestehend, da ein Arlequin neben einem Frauenzimmer sitzt, solche zu caressieren, die ihn mit der Pritzsche schlägt', [A group of two figures, in which a harlequin seated beside a lady, intending to caress her, while she hits him with a slapstick], Rückert, 1966, p. 168, no. 868.

Rainer Rückert, Meißener Porzellan, 1710-1810, Munich, 1966, p. 168, no. 209, illustrates an example now in the Bayerische Nationalmuseum, formerly in the de Zichy-Thyssen Collection. Other examples include those that were in the Collections of Walter von Pannwitz, sold, Hugo Helbing, Munich, October 24-25, 1905, pl. LVIII; Jacques Mühsam, sold, Glückselig, Vienna, April 27-30, 1925, lot 84; Sir Ernest Cassel, London, and his granddaughter, Lady Louis Mountbatten, by descent, subsequently sold, Puttick & Simpson, London May 25-27, 1932, lot 652. An example of this model with very close decoration sold at Christie's London, June 2-3, 2015, lot 30.