Monkey
Johann Joachim Kändler (Germany 1706 - Meissen 1775)
Category
Ceramics
Date
1755 - 1770
Materials
Ceramic
Measurements
130 mm (H)
Place of origin
Meissen
Order this imageCollection
Clandon Park, Surrey
NT 1440310.1
Caption
Monkeys dressed in fashionable clothes and imitating human behaviour were a feature of early 18th century European art and design. French artist Christophe Huet painted whole decorative schemes showing monkeys engaged in the aristocratic pursuits of hunting, drinking chocolate, playing music and dancing: his famous Grande Singerie and Petite Singerie at the Château de Chantilly. These kinds of images were no doubt the inspiration for JJ Kändler’s lively monkey band.
Summary
[Salvaged] One part of a Meissen monkey band of J J Kaendler, consisting of 19 figures and 3 music stands, and including the conductor, 12 male instrumentalists, male chorus master and 5 female singers.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust in 1968 by Mrs Hannah Gubbay
Marks and inscriptions
crossed swords marks in blue, 18 figures on show, of which 7 have impressed numbers under or behind base.
Makers and roles
Johann Joachim Kändler (Germany 1706 - Meissen 1775) , modeller