88. Rare statuette en porcelaine de Meissen représentant « Hofnarr Fröhlich », datée 1737 A rare Meissen figure of the Hofnarr Fröhlich, dated 1737 Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, standing on am octagonal base, his thumbs hooked behind his black breeches with the date 1737 and initials J.F for Johann Fröhlich in gold lettering, wearing green breeches and a red short jacked with flowers and blue lining, is large black boots with red lining, his determined face with goatie and moustache hidden under a large yellow hat with blue ribbon, a large golden button on his breeches and three to his jacket, 25.5cm crossed swords mark in blue to the base, FM 1930 in red, (some restoration to extremeties) Provenance: The Rosa Alba Collection of Meissen Porcelain For a comprehensive discussion, see R. Rückert, Der Hofnarr Joseph Fröhlich 1694-1757, Taschenspieler und Spassmacher am Hofe Augusts des Starken (1998). Joseph Fröhlich (1694-1757) was born in Austria, and before joining the Dresden court, where he became, together with 'Baron' Schmiedel one of the most famous and well-recorded figures in the entourage of Augustus II, called Augustus the Strong. Fröhlich's image can be found in a multitude of disciplines in the Dresden State Collections, in paintings by Bellotto, in precious jewellery and of course in porcelain. His career began in 1725 as a juggler and jester at the Court of the Margrave of Bayreuth. On the recommendation of the Margrave's sister, Electress Eberhardine, the wife of Augustus the Strong, Fröhlich moved to Dresden where he served as Court Jester to the King. In Dresden he was the Electoral and Royal Court juggler, adviser kurzweiliger Rat, magician and jester and from 1744 onwards he was the Royal Polish Mühlenkommisar. These titles may have all been bestowed on him in jest, but his proximity to the ruler gave him status and power that only few at the court had access to. Fröhlich was by all accounts a savvy and clever man, and after Augustus the Strong's death in 1733, he continued in his duties for Augustus III, and even moved to Warsaw with the King at the start of the Seven Years' War. A figure of Fröhlich first appears in the Porzellan-waren-Lager on 7 March 1733 described as 'Für den Königl. Printzen von Pohlen and Littauen und Cour-Fürstl. Durchl. zu Sachsen..' '..1. Josephs Figur.' Later, in September 1736, the figure appears in Kändler's Arbeitsbericht as 'Eine Josephs Figur in Thon geändert und Verpeßert, damit solche aufs Neue hat können abgeformet werden' [A figure of Joseph in clay, altered and improved so it could be modelled again]. The model appears to be based on the engraving 'Joseph Frölig Hof=taschen spieler' of 1729 by Christian Friedrich Boetius. The inscribed dates on his braces range between 1733 and 1758, the year after his death. For a further discussion of the model, see Ulrich Pietsch Die figürliche Meissner Porzellanplastik von Gottlieb Kirchner und Johann Joachim Kaendler, Munich, 2006, pp. 11-13, nos. 4 and 5; and S. Andres-Acevedo, Die Autonome figuerliche Plastikken Johann Joachim Kaendlers und seiner Werkstatt zwischen 1731-1748, Vol II, p. 55.