76. A Meissen documentary figure of a shepherd (Hirte), dated 1920 Painted and modelled by Paul Scheurich, signed and dated 'Scheurich 1920' to the rear, as a nude man wearing a hat and leaning on a tree stump, a staff in his hands, delicately decorated by the artist, on a square base, incised 'Scheurich 19' to the side, 35.5cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, incised model number F 276., impressed former numeral 92 (the staff restored) Scheurich modeled the piece in 1918 or, at the latest, early 1919, exhibiting it at the Spring exhibition of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. The Meissen manufactory acquired the model for RM 1500 on 27 August 1919. In November of that year, Max Adolf Pfeiffer wrote to Professor Ernst Zimmermann, Director of the Dresden Porcelain Collection: "...Anliegend send ich Ihnen die Photos unseres neuesten Scheurichs...Ist der 'Hirt' nicht ganz entzückend?..." ["...Enclosed I send you the photos of our latest Scheurich...Isn't the 'Shepherd' completely charming?"] (Johannes Rafael, Paul Scheurich 1883-1945 Porzellane für die Meissener Manufaktur, Meissener Manuskripte, Sonderband VIII, 1995, p. 52). The first porcelain version was produced around early 1920, with the first sale occurring in October. By 1933, approximately 160 figures had been sold, followed by an average of about two per year thereafter.