Collection of figures from the Meissen Monkey Chapel. 21 pieces; 20 standing and seated figures of a bandmaster with music stand, a flautist, violinist, pianist, bagpiper, harpist, hurdy-gurdy player, triangle player, bassoon player, clarinettist, bass violinist, guitarist, trumpeter, French horn player, timpani player, drummer and three female singers on a rocaille base in relief. Polychrome painting with gold staffage. Designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler and Peter Reinicke. Music stand, after 1973, remainder; crossed swords mark. H. 9 cm - 17 cm. As early as 1753, Kaendler designed an ensemble of music-making monkey figures in colourful clothing with an affected expression, as it is said, for Madame de Pompadour, which he reworked in collaboration with Peter Reinicke around 1765/1766. Depictions of animals with human characteristics and behaviour enjoyed great popularity in the 18th century, not least because of the great interest in fable poems, especially in the so-called "Singeries" by French artists, which showed curious, scenic depictions of monkeys acting humanly in various situations. Cf. Rückert, cat. Bayer. Nationalmuseum, p. 192, Sonntag, Affenkapelle aus Meissener Porzellan, pp. 29ff. A 21-piece collection of porcelain figures from the "monkey orchestra" modelled by J. J. Kaendler and P. Reinicke. Music desk dated after 1973. restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. 19th century.