399. Porcelain group Monkey Orchestra.

Porcelain group Monkey Orchestra: Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur. Dimensions: the height of the figurines is from 11.5 cm to 16.5 cm.The porcelain group Monkey Orchestra (Affenkapelle) is a classic of the parody-clownish Meissen baroque, the plot of which was later repeatedly reproduced by other manufactories and authors. The classical version of the orchestra consists of 21 figures: a conductor, a singer, a clarinetist, a flutist, a harpist, a violinist, a cellist, a drummer and other musicians. The figurines are distinguished by realistic, dynamic poses and are dressed up, according to the fashion of the time, in magnificent wigs, camisoles, shoes and lace. Until now, it is not known for certain where this story was borrowed from. According to one version, the author of the grotesque figure, Johann Kendler, created a parody of courtiers and representatives of the nobility. The monkey personified the nobleman, who, even if dressed in fashionable dresses, still remains a narrow-minded person, greedy for flattery, conceited and lustful. According to another version, the sculptor was inspired by the book of the German satirist Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener, which tells about a trainer who presented an orchestra of trained monkeys to the public. Some researchers suggest that the porcelain group allegorically depicts real characters - the orchestra of the Saxon Prime Minister Count Heinrich von Brühl, which was terribly out of tune. History has preserved the name of the first owner of the parody musical ensemble. She was the favorite of Louis XV and a great lover of porcelain (her personal collection consisted of about 400 items!) Madame Pompadour. Another famous owner of the allegorical group was Baroness Beatrice Rothschild, whose collection is kept in the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on the Côte dAzur.The monkey orchestra is a recognized classic of porcelain art that can take its rightful place in the collection of any collector of white gold.