Live Auction 1126Centuries of Style
A MEISSEN COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF SCAPIN FROM THE DUKE OF WEISSENFELS SERIES
Lot 41

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

CIRCA 1744, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK

Closed4 June 2013

Price Realised

GBP 2,500

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A MEISSEN COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE FIGURE OF SCAPIN FROM THE DUKE OF WEISSENFELS SERIES
CIRCA 1744, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK
Modelled by P. Reinicke and probably J.J. Kändler, standing before a tree-stump, turned to the right with his right arm behind his back, carrying a black hat in his left hand, with curly hair, a moustache and a beard, in a puce-lined blue cape, a yellow tunic with gilt frogging, puce trousers and yellow shoes with blue rosettes, a purse and a dagger slung into a black belt at his waist, on a mound base applied with flowers and foliage (restoration to dagger and hat, chip to foliage, slight flaking to blue enamel)
5¼ in. (13.3 cm.) high

With Kunsthandel Dr. Dagmar Holz, Königswinter, from whom it was acquired on 4 October 2003.

Specialist note

Scapin is recorded in the work notes of Reinicke for July 1744 as '1 Scapin, 7 zoll hoch, zur Italienischen Comödie, in Thon bossirt' (1 Scapin, 7 zoll high, from the Italian Comedy, modelled in clay), see Meredith Chilton, Harlequin Unmasked, The Commedia dell'Arte and Porcelain Sculpture, Singapore, 2001, p. 308, and where a similar example is illustrated.

Originating from Bergamo, Scapin belongs to the group of 'zanni', or valets and servant characters of the Commedia dell'Arte. His name derives from the Italian word 'scappare', to escape. This figure of Scapin is directly inspired by Joullain's engraving 'Habit de Scapin' published in Luigi Riccoboni's, Histoire du Théâtre Italien, Paris, 1728.