Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Karl Ens Volkstedt Porcelain Dancer, Jester

In Figurines > Show & Tell and Art Deco > Show & Tell.
Figurines1795 of 3870Antique paper Mache boy & girlcast aluminum figurine?
9
Love it
0
Like it

ho2cultchaho2cultcha loves this.
jenericjeneric loves this.
btruebtrue loves this.
martikamartika loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
racer4fourracer4four loves this.
auraaura loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
LovelyPatLovelyPat loves this.
See 7 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 8 years ago

    fire.stone
    (2 items)

    Seeking your kind assistance. Porcelain figurine obtained from a New Jersey estate. It measures 9 1/2 inches tall and weighs 3/4 of a pound. We’re told it was purchased by a relative visiting Germany possibly in the 1940s and was given as a gift to the family of the estate upon returning. The green markings on the bottom lead us to Karl Ens Volkstedt Porcelain. But we can’t verify a date for this piece, and we don’t know its name. The costume is a mystery to us and may be specific to a legend or story. Is it a jester or dancer? Is this a reference to Punchinello? Kind regards to all who help.

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Figurines
    See all
    RARE Antique 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Figurine Cupid Dolphin Horn 1744
    RARE Antique 19th Century Meissen P...
    $106
    Vintage Viking Glass Epic Line Hound Dog #1323 Persimmon Orange MCM 8
    Vintage Viking Glass Epic Line Houn...
    $71
    Mosser Vintage Style Midnight Blue Sitting Cat
    Mosser Vintage Style Midnight Blue ...
    $24
    Vintage Fenton Vaseline Glass Opalescent Sitting Cat 5165 TOPAZ (Glows UV Light)
    Vintage Fenton Vaseline Glass Opale...
    $72
    logo
    RARE Antique 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Figurine Cupid Dolphin Horn 1744
    RARE Antique 19th Century Meissen P...
    $106
    See all

    Comments

    1. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      It's beautifully made!
    2. PostCardCollector PostCardCollector, 8 years ago
      Harlequin Costume.
      The Harlequin is characterized by his chequered costume. His role is that of a light-hearted, nimble and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Colombina, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot. He later develops into a prototype of the romantic hero. Harlequin inherits his physical agility and his trickster qualities, as well as his name, from a mischievous "devil" character in medieval passion plays.

      The Harlequin character came to England early in the 17th century and took center stage in the derived genre of the Harlequinade, developed in the early 18th century by John Rich.[3] As the Harlequinade portion of English dramatic genre pantomime developed, Harlequin was routinely paired with the character Clown. As developed by Joseph Grimaldi around 1800, Clown became the mischievous and brutish foil for the more sophisticated Harlequin, who became more of a romantic character. The most influential such pair in Victorian England were the Payne Brothers, active during the
    3. vetraio50 vetraio50, 8 years ago
      I think he is a she. The Harlequin costume is multicoloured, I think. The different colours were originally swatches of material: green, red, yellow and brown. Some say those colours are similar to a water bird called an 'harle' or 'herle'.

      Karl Ens did a Pierrot male figure in blues I think.

      I think your dancer is quite different. She is dressed in blue diamonds blouse over a beautifully formed Art Deco skirt. And those dreamy eyes !!!!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.