Sophie von der Goltz
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Lot 71
Figure en porcelaine de Meissen représentant Bajazzo, vers 1919-23
A Meissen figure of Bajazzo, circa 1919-23
A Meissen figure of Bajazzo, circa 1919-23
29 October 2025, 14:00 CET
Paris, Avenue Hoche€2,000 - €3,000
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Figure en porcelaine de Meissen représentant Bajazzo, vers 1919-23
A Meissen figure of Bajazzo, circa 1919-23
A Meissen figure of Bajazzo, circa 1919-23
Modelled by Paul Scheurich, wearing a black headcap and mask, white baggy shirt and loosely tied black bow, his hands posed in a theatrical motion, multicoloured lozenges to his trousers, holding a slapstick, leaning against a draped support and standing on a simple circular base, 26.5cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to base, incised model number F.261, incised former number 136, (slapstick restored)
Footnotes
The figure of Bajazzo bears a strong resemblance to Scheurich's Harlequin from the earlier group of Harlequin and Columbine from the Ballets Russes series. Yet it was conceived independently and at a later date, in 1918. In a letter to the Meissen manufactory, Scheurich wrote: '...Der Harlekin schreitet seiner Vollendung entgegen - ich denke, daß ich ihn noch im August schicken kann...' [The Harlequin is nearing completion – I think I can send him off in August] (Johannes Rafael, Paul Scheurich: Balletfiguren, in Keramos 148, 1995, pp. 74). It is assumed that both the Harlequin from the earlier porcelain group and Bajazzo are based on Vaslav Nijinsky's performance of Harlequin with the ballet troupe, but no definitive evidence has been found to confirm this.
The plaster model was sent off to Meissen in September 1918 and subsequently acquired by the manufactory for 1250 Mark. The first porcelain version was sold in November 1919. Although Max Adolf Pfeiffer expressed enthusiasm for the design, Bajazzo did not achieve the same popularity as Scheurich's earlier ballet figures. Between 1919 and 1924, only around 100 examples were sold.
For a full discussion of Scheurich's ballet models, see Johannes Rafael, Paul Scheurich: Balletfiguren, in Keramos 148, 1995, pp. 53-84.
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