181 - ROYAL BERLIN PORCELAIN MANUFACTORY. KPM

ROYAL BERLIN PORCELAIN MANUFACTORY. KPM CHINESE MUSICIANS. A PAIR OF PORCELAIN FIGURES. KPM BERLIN. A rare pair of porcelain figures produced by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory Berlin (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, KPM), executed in the Chinoiserie style and depicting Chinese musicians. The composition portrays a lady and a gentleman dressed in vividly coloured stylised Oriental attire, performing together as a musical duet. The female figure plays a stringed instrument, while the male musician holds a European wind instrument, reflecting the imaginative European interpretation of Chinese themes that became characteristic of eighteenth-century decorative arts. The figures display richly painted polychrome decoration, refined modelling of the drapery and expressive sculptural movement. Their costumes are embellished with vibrant floral ornament combining exotic Eastern motifs with the refined porcelain tradition of Europe. Elaborate headdresses, delicate facial modelling and intentionally theatrical interpretation embody the aesthetic ideals of Chinoiserie, which flourished throughout European decorative arts during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The partially exposed bust of the female figure represents a characteristic artistic convention of European interpretations of Oriental subjects rather than an ethnographic depiction. Both figures stand upon rectangular stepped bases highlighted with gilded borders. The exceptional quality of modelling, finely executed hand-painted decoration and harmonious composition demonstrate the remarkable craftsmanship of the artists and modellers of KPM Berlin. Manufacturer`s Mark: Underglaze blue mark of Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM), Berlin. Dimensions: Height: 17 cm. Width: 12 cm. Condition: Very good condition. Minor age-related wear consistent with the period. Width: 12cm, Height: 17cm, Depth: 12cm, Weight: 1.2kg, Condition: Good, Material: Porcelain, Polychrome painting, Hand painting, ID: ID-ANTQ-86