Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines

anonymous, 1748 - 1749

These porcelain figurines are supposed to represent inhabitants of Malabar, a coastal region in southwest India. However, engravings of Malabars in Western literature came to symbolize people from all over India. The prints were a European fantasy, just like these statuettes. Their clothes, headdress, hairdos and trappings are an amalgam of all kinds of styles and ideas. They became a popular product of the Meissen manufactory.

  • Artwork typefigure
  • Object numberBK-17506-A
  • Dimensionsheight 40.6 cm x width 17.3 cm x depth 16.6 cm, height 32.3 cm
  • Physical characteristicsbeschilderd porselein, verguld brons

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-17506-A

  • Description

    Figuur van beschilderd porselein. Het beeld stelt een figuur bekend als een 'Malabar' voor. Het beeld heeft een deels verguld rond voetstuk in rococo-stijl en is gemonteerd op een verguld bronzen voetstuk. De man speelt op een gitaar en draagt op zijn rug een bruine kist aan een koord. Het beeld is gemerkt. Oorspronkelijk stond de figuur op een verguld bronzen voetstuk.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    factory mark

Creation

  • Creation

    • bronzeworker: anonymous, Paris
    • porcelain company: Meissener Porzellan Manufaktur, Meissen
    • porseleinmodelleur: Friedrich Elias Meyer (I), Meissen

  • Dating

    1748 - 1749

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    beschilderd porselein, verguld brons

  • Dimensions

    • height 40.6 cm x width 17.3 cm x depth 16.6 cm
    • height 32.3 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, before 1933;{Photo album ‘Het huis van Dr F. Mannheimer, Amsterdam’, 1928-32, Rijksmuseum, inv. no. B-F-1963-426-33.} from whom, fl. 6,350,000, en bloc, to Artistic & General Securities Ltd. as security for a loan from the Mendelssohn & Co. Bank, but kept in usufruct, 1934;{NHA, 476, RMA Archive, inv. no. 2142, Recapitulatie der geïnventariseerde kunstvoorwerpen van wijlen Dr F. Mannheimer, undated, p. 10, no. Por. 118a-b, Artistic no. 21/26; NHA, 233, Arrondissementsrechtbank Amsterdam, inv. no. 1365, “O.R. 256/1939, Faillissementsdossier: nalatenschap Dr. F. Mannheimer, 28 augustus 1939”, image 3, page 2.} purchased from Mendelssohn & Co. Bank, en bloc, by the Dienststelle Mühlmann, The Hague, for Adolf Hitler's Führermuseum, Linz, 1940;{Korthals Altes 1974, pp. 21-22.} war recuperation, SNK, 1945;{HNA, SNK Archive, 2.08.42, inv. no. 548.} on loan, with 1,702 other objects, from the DRVK to the museum, 1952;{Note RMA.} transferred to the museum, 1960

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

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  • Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines
  • Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines
  • Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines
  • Pair of ‘Malabar’ Figurines