Pair Of Porcelain Figurines, “chinese Musicians.” Kpm Berlin

A rare pair of porcelain figurines produced by the Royal Porcelain Manufactory of Berlin (Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur, KPM), crafted in the chinoiserie style and depicting two Chinese musicians. The composition features a woman and a musician dressed in richly stylized, polychrome Oriental costumes, performing a musical scene together. The female figure plays a stringed instrument, while her companion holds a wind instrument of European origin, illustrating the free interpretation of Chinese themes characteristic of 18th-century European decorative arts.

The figures are distinguished by their vibrant polychromy, the refined modeling of the drapery, and their great sculptural expressiveness. The costumes are embellished with brightly colored floral motifs, blending Eastern fantasy with European porcelain-making traditions. The exotic headdresses, delicately modeled features, and deliberately theatrical composition fully embody the Chinoiserie aesthetic, which was widely prevalent in European decorative arts during the 18th and 19th centuries. The slight exposure of the female figure’s chest is an artistic device characteristic of the idealized European vision of the Orient.

The two figures rest on rectangular, stepped bases accented with gilded moldings. The finesse of the modeling, the exceptional quality of the hand-painting, and the balance of the composition attest to the craftsmanship of the artists and modelers at the KPM manufactory in Berlin.

Manufacturer’s mark: Underglaze blue mark of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur (KPM), Berlin.

Dimensions: Height: 17 cm. Width: 12 cm.

Condition: Very good condition. Slight signs of wear consistent with the piece’s age.

ID-ANTQ-86