Female cook holding a larded Hare: C.8-1954

Titles

Female cook holding a larded Hare

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory
Modeller: Kändler, Johann Joachim
Modeller: Eberlein, Johann Friedrich (Probably)

Entities

• Figure

Categories

• Hard-paste porcelain

Description

Hard-paste porcelain figure of a seated female cook painted in enamels and gilt

Hard-paste porcelian, press-moulded, glazed, painted in yellow, flesh-pink, pink, puce, reddish-brown, and black enamels, and gilded. The cook is seated on a low rough white stump on a flat base, with her right foot extending over the edge. In her right hand she holds the larded saddle and hind quarters of a hare, with an oblong pale-cream larding board resting on her lap, on which lies some lard and a larding needle. In her heft hand she holded the gilded handle of a tool.
She wears a pink cap with white frill, fastened at the back by gold straps with a green bow, and a bead necklace with a purple bow. Her yellow bodice has a mauve border, laced in front and split behind, and sits over a low white chemise with short flowing sleeves. She also wears a pink and flowered skirt with gold trimming, white stockings, and black shoes with gold buckles.

Notes

History note: Purchased from Willy Lissauer, Berlin on 5 May 1933 for £40 by Cecil, 2nd Baron Fisher (1868-1955) ; Lord and Lady Fisher of Kilverstone

Legal notes

Given by Lord and Lady Fisher through the National Art Collections Fund

Place(s) associated

• Meissen ⪼ Saxony ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1954-01-14) by Fisher, Lord and Lady

Dating

Third quarter of 18th century
Circa 1750 CE - 1760 CE

Note

This figure of a seated female cook was paired with a seated male cook holding up a ham (C.7-1954). Hare can be rather dry when cooked, and for that reason the cook has threaded strips of fat through its skin before putting it to roast, a process known as larding. The figure was modelled by J. J. Kaendler (1706-75) , and probably also by J.F. Eberlein (1695-1749), about 1750, and is Meissen model no. 1303.

School or Style

Rococo