"HARLEQUIN ANCIEN" FROM THE COMEDIAN SERIES FOR JOHANN ADOLF II, DUKE OF SAXE-WEISSENFELS

"HARLEQUIN ANCIEN" FROM THE COMEDIAN SERIES FOR JOHANN ADOLF II, DUKE OF SAXE-WEISSENFELS

Meissen, models by J. J. Kändler and Peter Reinicke ca. 1743–44.

Underglaze blue sword mark on the back of the base.

H 14 cm.

Restorations.

The harlequin and eight of the figures in the following lots belong to a group of figures from the Commedia dell'arte created by Peter Reinicke in 1743-44 for the Duke of Weissenfels. The models for most of these animated characters were taken from François Joulain's copperplate engravings after Riccoboni's "Histoire du theatre Italien", published in Paris in 1728. For the models, see H.E. Backer, Komödienfiguren in der Sammlung Dr. Ernst Schneider, KFS Mitteilungsblatt No. 50, 1960, p. 59, Figs. 179-200.