Sophie von der Goltz
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Lot 45
Très rare groupe en porcelaine de Meissen représentant des chanteurs d'opéra, la porcelaine vers 1745, décoré postérieurement
A very rare Meissen group of opera singers, the porcelain circa 1745, later decorated
A very rare Meissen group of opera singers, the porcelain circa 1745, later decorated
29 October 2025, 14:00 CET
Paris, Avenue Hoche€15,000 - €20,000
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Très rare groupe en porcelaine de Meissen représentant des chanteurs d'opéra, la porcelaine vers 1745, décoré postérieurement
A very rare Meissen group of opera singers, the porcelain circa 1745, later decorated
A very rare Meissen group of opera singers, the porcelain circa 1745, later decorated
Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, the lady wearing a fur-lined blue coat edged with gilt floral motifs and with puce cuffs and two ribbons with purple scrollwork at the rear and a skirt painted with indianische Blumen edged with a puce ground band with gilt stripes, her companion wearing a hat with feathers, yellow tunic, iron-red skirt with black foliate scrollwork and a gilt-striped border, turquoise breeches with purple ribbons and a white cloak, the base applied with leaves and flowers, 24cm high; 30cm across (some restoration)
Footnotes
Provenance:
Maurice de Rothschild Collection, anon. sale, Christie's London, 28 March 1977, lot 129;
Mrs John W. Christner Collection, Dallas, sold at Christie's New York, 30 November-1 December 1979, lot 141
Literature:
Rafael, Johannes, "Zur 'Taxa Kaendler'," Keramos 203/204 (2009): 60 (illustrated);
Siemen, Wilhelm (ed.), Von den Ursprüngen des europäischen Porzellans bis zum Art Déco, 2010, p. 116, cat. 83
Exhibited:
Selb and Hohenberg a.d. Eger, Porzellanikon - Staatliches Museum für Porzellan, Königstraum und Massenware. 300 Jahr europäisches Porzellan, 24 April to 2 November 2010;
Hohenberg an der Eger, Porzellanikon - Staatliches Museum für Porzellan, 2018-2023
This group is listed both in Kaendler's work records in March 1744, as well as in his Taxa of overtime work under no. 178: "1. Grouppe aus 2. Opera Figuren bestehend, davon eine in singender action in einem sehr sauber gestickten Kleide auch 2. Flügeln, nebst Palatin, die andere Manns Person in Römischen Habit mit Casquet und Feder auf dem Haupte nebst langen Talar singende vorgestellet" [1 group consisting of 2 opera figures, one of which sings in a very neatly embroidered costume with 2 wings and a Palatin cloak, the other as a man in Roman costume with helmet and plumes on his head and a long gown, depicted singing].
As with the Italian Comedy, the production of porcelain figures of singers by the Meissen manufactory reflects the importance of opera at the Dresden court. The court architect, Matthäus Pöppelmann, designed a new opera house that was built next to the Zwinger Palace in 1718-19, of which the interior was twice remodelled, in 1738 and 1747.
Another example of the group is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. 64.101.56. Others are in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection, Basel (formerly in the List Collection, Magdeburg), in the Kocher Collection, Bern, and formerly in the C.H. Fischer Collection, Dresden (sold at Heberle Cologne, 22-25 October 1906, lot 975).
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