2. Rare Meissen porcelain statuette depicting a theatrical figure playing a lute, circa 1740 A rare Meissen theatrical figure playing the lute, circa 1740 Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, wearing a gilt-edge black hat with red rosette gilt-edged ruff collar, gilt-striped salmon-pink jacket with gilt and black flower sprigs and green bows at the front, a gilt-edged, grey-lined blue cloak draped over his left arm, puce trousers and black shoes with yellow bows, 16.8cm high, crossed swords mark in blue Provenance: Antiquitäten der Kunsthandlung D. Pergamenter, Berlin, sold at Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 4-8 May 1909, lot 58; Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection, Basel (applied paper label to base); Anon. sale, Christie's London, 5 October 1987, lot 160 Literature: Rafael, Johannes, "Zur 'Taxa Kaendler', Keramos 203/204 (2009): 46 (illustrated) Exhibited: Hohenberg a.d. Eger, Porzellanikon - Staatliches Museum für Porzellan, 2018-2023 Kaendler's Taxa includes: "1 Musicante theatricralisch gekleidet, wie er auf der Laute spielet" [1 musician in theatrical dress, playing the lute]. The figure is also included in Kaendler's work records in a list of models completed by Kaendler and two apprentices in overtime work between the beginning of May and end of August 1739. Other examples of this rare figure are in the porcelain collection in Dresden (formerly Gustav and Charlotte von Klemperer Collection), inv. PE 510; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Irwin Untermyer Collection, inv. 64.101.91; and in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. C.17-1984. Another was in the Emma Budge Collection in Hamburg (sold at Paul Graupe/Hans W. Lange, Berlin, 27-29 September 1937, lot 808).