Miner: C.40-1954

Titles

Miner

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory

Entities

• Figure group

Categories

• Hard-paste porcelain

Description

Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels and gilt

Hard-paste porcelain, press-moulded, and painted overglaze in blue, green, yellow, flesh pink, red, purple, pale brown and black enamels and gilt; metal (not ferrous) head to pick. The flat, unglazed base has a ventilation hole centrally placed near the back.

The square low mound base rises up at the back into a pile of rocks which support the figure. The top of the base is strewn with applied flowers and leaves: a blue convolvulus with yellow centre and three leaves on the viewer's left: a white carnation with purple edges and three leaves between the figure's feet, and a purple and purple edged white flower with yellow stamens and two leaves on the right. The miner stands on his right leg with left advanced, He leans back slightly and in his right hand grasps the handle of a pick-axe, the head of which rests on his right shoulder. His left hand is extended a little way to the side. He wears black pillbox hat with a white upper edge, gold crossed picks on the front, and a green rosette on its left side. He has a short black coat with gold buttons down the front and on both sleeves, white knee breeches, black knee-caps, white stockings, and black shoes with gold buckles. Behind him he has a long curved apron with a pale brown leather lining secured in front with a black pouch, next to which is a case holding two gilded wedges.

Notes

History note: Purchased by the 2nd Lord Fisher of Kilverstone from Willy Lissauer in Berlin for £30 on 21 May 1933

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

18th Century, Mid
Production date: circa AD 1748

Note

Mining was one of the most important industries in Saxony and a major source of revenue. The ceremonial costumes of the various ranks of Saxon miners were recorded in a set of drawings by H.C. Fehling which were engraved by Christoph Weigel and published at Nuremburg in 1721 with the title Abbildung und Beschreibung derer sämtlichen BergwerksBeamten und Bedienten nach ihrem gewöhnlichen Rang und Ordnung in behörigen Berg-Habit (Illustration and escription of the costumes of all the mine officers and employees according to their customary rank and class).They commemorated the participation of the miners in the festivities which took place in Dresden in 1719 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Freerick Augustus to the Princess Maria Josepha von Habsburg. About 1748-50 Kaendler and Reinicke modelled a set of eight figures of which seven were inspired by Weigel’s prints. The exact date is not known because the factory records of the modellers’ work are missing between 1748 and 1764. In this set the figures are standing, on a square mound base strewn with flowers, and not shown working as some later figures were. This miner wears a black jacket with gold buttons and black cap which were worn for ceremonial occasions. His pose differs from the printed source in having the pick over his right shoulder and the palm of his left hand down, instead of up.