FIGURE GROUP (ONE OF A PAIR).
Painted in overglaze colours. Period 1780-1790. Marked with three blue lines. Height 9-1/5 inches.
(From the collection of the late Hr. B. Hirschsprüng)
Classification of Figure Subjects.—The figure subjects under examination in this chapter may be divided into the following groups:—
- Portrait Busts and Statuettes and Classic figures, in biscuit—
- such as those of Queen Juliane Marie and the Hereditary Prince Frederik, and the statuette of A Hero at the National Museum, Stockholm (illustrated, p. [115])
- Ornamental subjects, in white—
- such as the centre-piece with the supporting Cupids at the Dansk Folke Museum, Copenhagen, and the remarkably fine vases, 4 feet high, at Frederiksborg, having powerfully modelled groups of female classic figures.
- Classic figures and subjects, decorated in colours, overglaze—
- such as the group Flora and Minerva by Jacob Schmidt and Sea Horses at the National Museum, Stockholm (illustrated, p. [119]).
- Romantic subjects in costume, decorated in colours, overglaze—
- such as Lovers with Cupid and Garlands (illustrated, p. [123]), and small figures of women and children in fanciful costume.
- There is at Frederiksborg Castle a group—Chinese Woman and Chinaman, who is offering her a basket of fruit. This Oriental subject is very rare. Marked with three lines underglaze in blue, but the yellow overglaze pigment on base has turned the blue into three green lines.
- Figure subjects in correct contemporary costume—practically a ceramic gallery faithfully reflecting the social character of the period—
- such as the Flute Player, the Lady and Gentleman dancing, the Beggar, and an especially fine series of peasant types in old costume, engaged at their various vocations—e.g. two groups of Norwegian Miners, with black costume and green caps, with C7 in gold (at Frederiksborg Castle). The Woman with Hens, in Norwegian costume, a Market Woman with Fowls, a Lobster-seller, Woman selling Fruit, Woman milking Cow. Figures in naval and military uniform, and many others.
Old Copenhagen Figures—their National Character.—In regard to the series of figures in contemporary costume, there is an air about them which stamps them at once as being the work of the old Copenhagen factory. They are practically portrait studies, with that added touch of poetic charm which fits them for their place among the gods of the china cabinet.
They challenge comparison with the work of other European factories. Kändler, the modeller at Meissen, in what is styled the Krinolinengruppen period in mid eighteenth-century days, produced figures of lovers and ladies in rich costumes. They belong to that impossible world of the china-shelf, of shepherds and shepherdesses and bending cavaliers and gay ladies, conjured up in the fertile brain of the potter. They invaded France and they conquered England in the glorious days of Derby and Chelsea. But with a few notable exceptions they did not penetrate to Copenhagen.
FIGURES.