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A knife seller: C.31-1954

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

A knife seller

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory
Modeller: Reinicke, Peter (Possibly)
Modeller: Kändler, Johann Joachim (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt

Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded, and painted overglaze in blue, green, yellow, dark cream, flesh pink, red, several shades of brown, and black enamels, and gilt. The flat underside is unglazed and has a small circular ventilation hole near the back. The low square mound base is decorated with applied leaves and two blue flowers with yellow centres. The knife seller stands on his right leg with his left advanced slightly to his left, with the toe projecting over the edge. He faces front, and points with his right hand to a mottled brown case balanced on his left arm, which is filled with black knives, scissors, a hook, a pair of spectacles, and a comb, held in position by white straps. He has shoulder-length curling greyish hair, and wears a white shirt, a red waistcoat with gold buttons, a white coat with wide cuffs, side pleats, and gold buttons, yellow breeches, white stockings and black shoes with gold buttons. His black tricorne hat is held in his right hand below the case. On the ground behind him rests a tall mottled brown cabinet containing six draws with black knobs,and fitted on the back with two dark cream carrying straps.

Notes

History note: Purchased by Cecil Vavasseur, 2nd Lord Fisher from Willy Lissauer, Berlin, on 23 July 1933, for £30; Lord and Lady Fisher of Kilverstone.

Legal notes

Given by Lord and Lady Fisher through the National Art Collections Fund (now The Art Fund)

Measurements and weight

Depth: 9 cm
Height: 18.7 cm
Width: 10 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Meissen ⪼ Saxony ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Circa 1745 CE - 1750 CE

Note

This figure is one of a series of Meissen models illustrating the 'Cries of Paris'. It was modelled by Peter Reinicke (1711-68) after 'Des Couteaux, des Cizeaux, des Peignes' (Knives, Scissors and Combs), the third print of the fourth set of prints entitled 'Études prises dans le bas Peuple ou les Cris de Paris' engraved by the comte de Caylus (1692-1765) after drawings by Edmé Bouchardon (1689-1762), and published in 1742. The figure's stance is transposed from the engraving. Meissen model no. 965

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamel ( blue, green, yellow, dark cream, flesh pink, red, several shades of brown, and black) gold
Visible Surfaces composed of glaze ( clear)

Materials used in production

Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded, and painted overglaze in blue, green, yellow, dark cream, flesh pink, red, several shades of brown, and black enamels, and gilt. The flat underside is unglazed and has a small circular ventilation hole near the back.

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: F
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Hand-written or painted in black
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: printed in red, the Fisher crest with below 'No.' (o raised) followed by 390 hand-written in black ink
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Printed in red and hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.31-1954
Primary reference Number: 140217
Model number: 965
Old catalogue number: 390
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 12 December 2023 Last processed: Tuesday 19 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "A knife seller" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/140217 Accessed: 2024-11-02 16:22:04

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/140217 |title=A knife seller |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 16:22:04|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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