A Meissen porcelain Commedia dell'Arte figure of Scaramouche from the Duke of Weissenfels series, circa 1745
Lot Closed
June 25, 12:14 PM GMT
Estimate
1,500 - 2,500 EUR
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Description
modelled by P. Reinicke, standing in a theatrical pose, wearing a black cap, lilac cape, chequered jacket, yellow breeches and red shoes with yellow ribbons, before a tree stump on a mound base applied with flowers, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to rear of base
Height 5 ¼ in; 13,5 cm
Anonymous sale, Piasa, Paris, 30 May 2012, lot 191;
Acquired at the above sale.
Reinicke's work book refers in June 1744 to '1 Scarmuz in Thon bossirt', [1 Scaramouche modelled in clay], see Meredith Chilton, Harlequin Unmasked, The Commedia dell'Arte and Porcelain Sculpture, exh. Cat., New Haven, 2001 p. 311, cat. no. 108. Two versions of the figure were modelled where the pose is altered slightly and it is unclear which the entry refers to. Examples of both models were in the collection of Giovanni and Gabriella Barilla, sold, Sotheby’s, London, 14 March 2012, lots 132 and 139.
Scaramouche was a Neapolitan valet, fond of the bottle, intrigue and women. "although he was a large eater, he was one of the most agile players ever seen... in character, he was extremely suspicious, miserly and hot-tempered." (Angelo Constantini, The Birth, Life and Death of Scaramouche, Paris, 1695).