Rare Meissen comedian figure "Pulcinella" from the Italian Comedy Comedian standing on an oval base with leaves and blossom on a tree stump in an expressive dancing posture. Pulcinella is wearing a jacket with a striped and playing card pattern from which his prominent hump protrudes at the back, plain trousers and a pointed hat decorated with a bow. His right hand is raised, his left hand is lowered to the ground with the cot. Polychrome painting with gold staffage. Designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler and Peter Reinicke, c. 1742 - 1744. Minimally restored; crossed swords mark. H. 16 cm. A series of the Italian Comedy commissioned around the same time by Johann Adolph II, Duke of Weißenfels, a cousin of August III, comprising around 15 figures. The figures, created between 1743 and 1745, were made by Peter Reinicke under the direction of the master modeller J. J. Kaendler and largely based on engravings by François Joullain for Luigi Riccoboni's "Histoire du Théatre Italien" (Paris 1728). Various graphic models are considered for this figure of Pulcinella. One is a copperplate engraving after the painting "Départ de Comédiens" by Watteau. On the other hand, there are two engravings by unknown artists showing a masquerade and a comedian's party respectively. Cf. cat. Pietsch, Early Meissen Porcelain, no. 204; cf. cat. Meister, Slg. Pauls, pp. 414-415; Andres-Acevedo, Die autonomen figürlichen Plastiken, vol. 2, no. 476. A rare porcelain figure of the Neapolitan Pulcinella from the Commedia dell'arte. Modelled by J.J. Kaendler and P. Reinicke. Minor restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Circa 1745.