A Crimean Tartar: C.46-1954

Current Location: Gallery 26 (Lower Marlay)

Titles

A Crimean Tartar

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory

Entities

Figure

Description

Hard-paste porcelain painted in enamels

Hard-paste porcelain painted in green, yellow, flesh pink, pink, orange, red, brown, grey, and black enamels and gilt. The flat underside is unglazed and has a circular ventilation hole below the figure. The square, low rocky base rises up slightly at the back. Is top is strewn with applied leaves and and flowers: two yellow and white and one orange and white. The bearded Tartar stands on his left foot with his right advanced. He looks forward and slightly upwards, holding his bow to his body with his left hand and holding an arrow by its point in his extended right hand. His head is covered by a yellow cap with brown netting over it and a white fur edging. He wears a white long-sleeved long flowing gown with a V neck which reveals a pale purplish-grey vest, a pink sash, pink stockings, nd yellow shoes. A long sword with a gilded white hilt and black scabbard hanges from his sash on a black strap. A brown quiver filled with arrows with red, yellow and pink flights, is held onto his back by an red strap passing over his left shoulder and under his right arm. His bow is grey with white binding, and the arrow in his right hand is grey with a white flight.

Notes

History note: Purchased by the 2nd Lord Fisher of Kilverstone from Willy Lissauer, Berlin on 18 August 1934, for £35

Legal notes

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

Measurements and weight

Height: 20.5 cm

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 1750

Note

This figure, Meissen model, no. 1299, is one of a series known as The Levantines or Foreign Nationals. It was probably derived from pl. 34 in Christoph Weigel's 'Der Wahrest und neuest Abbildung des Türchisches Hofe Nüremberg', 1721, which is transposed from the original engraving, pl. 84 in the comte de Ferriol’s Receuil de Cent Estampes representant differentes Nations du Levant . . ., 1714, or 1715 edition

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Visible Surfaces composed of glaze ( clear)
Decoration composed of enamel ( green, yellow, flesh pink, pink, orange, red, brown, grey, and black) gold

Materials used in production

Hard-paste porcelain

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Hard-paste porcelain painted in green, yellow, flesh pink, pink, orange, red, brown, purplish-grey, and black enamels and gilt. The flat underside is unglazed and has a circular ventilation hole below the figure.

Inscription or legends present

Text: crossed swords
Location: At centre on the lower back edge of base
Method of creation: Painted underglaze in blue
Type: Factory mark

Text: F
Location: On underside of base
Method of creation: Hand-written in black ink
Type: Inscription

Inscription present: cicular white paper label with serrated edge

Text: printed in red, the Fisher crest with below 'No.' (o raised), followed by '412' hand-written in black
Location: On underside of base
Method of creation: Printed in red and hand-written in black ink
Type: Label