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Commedia dell'Arte Figures

Collection Info
Commedia dell'Arte Figures

Among the most distinctive areas of the Gardiner Museum’s collection are its famous group of 150 European porcelain figures inspired by the Commedia dell’Arte. The Commedia dell’Arte was a popular form of theatre that emerged in Europe during the Renaissance, and remained popular until well into the eighteenth century. The collection includes examples from most European porcelain manufactories showing the characters and costumes of the actors, their gestures and comic poses. These figures were usually utilized as ornaments for the table in the eighteenth century.

The origins of the collection are also of interest. It was initially assembled by George Gardiner as a memento of his directorship of Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., publishers of popular novels. It has since been augmented by gifts from William and Molly Anne Macdonald and the heirs of Dr. Hans Syz.

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Child dressed as Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Bow Porcelain Works
c.1765-1770
Object number: G83.1.857
Children dressed as Harlequin and Harlequine
Artist / Maker: Bow Porcelain Works
c.1765
Object number: G83.1.856.1-2
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1750-1754; later decoration, c.1765
Object number: G83.1.855
Narcisin, also known as “The Captain”
Artist / Maker: Peter Reinicke
c.1760-1765
Object number: G83.1.853
The Italian Musicians
Artist / Maker: Bow Porcelain Works
c.1765; model introduced c.1750-1754
Object number: G83.1.852
Harlequin with bagpipes
Artist / Maker: Bow Porcelain Works
c.1755-1765
Object number: G83.1.851
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1750; later decoration, c.1765
Object number: G83.1.849
Columbine with hurdy-gurdy
Artist / Maker: Bow Porcelain Works
c.1755-1765
Object number: G83.1.848
Harlequin with bagpipes and Columbine with hurdy-gurdy
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1755-1765
Object number: G83.1.847.1-2
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1755-1765
Object number: G83.1.846
Scapin
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1750-1754
Object number: G83.1.845
Pulcinella
Artist / Maker: Muses Modeller
c.1750
Object number: G83.1.844
Harlequin and Columbine
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760-1765
Object number: G83.1.863
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory
c.1752-1758
Object number: G83.1.859
Pantalone and Harlequine
Artist / Maker: Claudius Innocentius du Paquier Factory
c.1740-1744
Object number: G83.1.871.1 -2
Pantalone
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G83.1.870
Dancing Harlequin and Harlequine
Artist / Maker: Derby Porcelain Factory
c.1772-1775
Object number: G83.1.868.1-2
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: William Duesbury I
19th-20th century
Object number: G83.1.867
Child dressed as Harlequine
Artist / Maker: William Duesbury I
c.1765-1770
Object number: G83.1.866
Child dressed as Harlequin
Artist / Maker: William Duesbury I
c.1765-1770
Object number: G83.1.865
Dancing Harlequin
c.1755-1765
Object number: G83.1.963
Hanswurst
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1755-1760
Object number: G83.1.877
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Frankenthal Porcelain Factory
c.1755-1760
Object number: G83.1.876
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Fulda Porcelain Factory
c.1765
Object number: G83.1.878