figure BM-1963-0422.11

Period:Unknown Production date:1735-1745 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, painted,

Dimensions:Height: 42.30 centimetres Weight: 3.15 kilograms Width: 21.90 centimetres Depth: 11.90 centimetres

Description:
‘Famille rose’ figure of a Jewish lady. The woman is standing with her hands by her sides, her clothes modelled as if blown to one side by the wind, and is painted in ‘famille rose’ enamels. She is wearing a dark blue patterned cape, lined in purplish blue, a broad ruffled collar, pink skirt, tight, laced bodice in yellow, green and brown, pale blue blouse and cloud-patterned apron. The lace-edged headdress which covers her hair has distinctive wings over each ear; her red shoes are pointed and around her wrists are twin-strand pearl bracelets.
IMG


Comments:Harrison-Hall and Krahl 1994:This figure is sometimes paired with a figure of a gentleman (Sargent, 1991, no.51) and was intended for display in the houses of wealthy Europeans. The figure is probably modelled after a costume print as yet untraced. Pictures of foreigners in characteristic costumes were popular in China as well as in Europe in the 18th century. Such figures were produced from moulds and other examples of this model are, for example, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (no. C.94-1963); in the Mottahedeh collection (Howard and Ayers, 1978, vol. I , pl. 641); in the Peabody Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.A. (Sargent, 1991, no.51); and in the Espirito Santo collection, Lisbon, Portugal (Beurdeley, 1962, pl.XVIII). Ronald Fuchs “European Subjects on Chinese Porcelain” in TOCS volume 72 (2007-8), pp. 35-41 identifies the print where this figure and its male companion appear. This is by Casper Luyken ” Frankfurther Jud und Juden” from Abraham a Sancta Clara’s Neu eroffnete Wely Galleria ( Nuremburg 1703). An example is in the Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary.The destinctive garments such as the ruffled collar and cap with peaked ears were prescribed by Jewish anti-sumptuary laws.