Live Auction 1126Centuries of Style
A MEISSEN COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF NARCISINO MALABERGO FROM THE DUKE OF WEISSENFELS SERIES
Lot 40

A MEISSEN COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF NARCISINO MALABERGO FROM THE DUKE OF WEISSENFELS SERIES

CIRCA 1744, IMPRESSED INDISTINCT NUMERAL

Closed4 June 2013

Price Realised

GBP 5,625

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

A MEISSEN COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF NARCISINO MALABERGO FROM THE DUKE OF WEISSENFELS SERIES
CIRCA 1744, IMPRESSED INDISTINCT NUMERAL
Modelled by J.J. Kändler and P. Reinicke, standing before a tree-stump, his right arm outstretched, with long hair and a dark moustache, in a gilt-edged white hat, a pale-orange-lined puce cape, a white tunic and shirt, turquoise pantaloons with a red belt and rosettes and red shoes with yellow rosettes, the base applied with flowers and foliage (right hand a restored replacement, minute wear to gilding)
5½ in. (14 cm.) high

Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 19 May 2004, lot 33.

Specialist note

Reinicke notes in his work book in September 1744: '1 Italienische Comödien-Figur, Narcisino Malabergo, in Thon bouhsirt' (1 Italian comedy figure, Narcisino Malabergo, modelled in clay). See Meredith Chilton, 'The Duke of Weissenfels Series' in Reinhard Jansen (ed.), Commedia dell'Arte Fest der Komödianten, Stuttgart, 2001, p. 53, no. 32 for a similar example, and the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection (inv. no. 1975.1086.13) for another example in the Historisches Museum, Basel, illustrated by Dr. Erika Pauls-Eisenbeiss, German Porcelain of the 18th Century, London, 1972, Vol. I, p. 337, no. 16.

This figure is modelled after the engraving 'Habit de Narcisin de Malalbergo' by François Joullain in Luigi Riccoboni's Histoire du Théâtre Italien, Paris, 1728.