European Decorative Arts
monkey orchestra figures
18th - 21st century
These figures originated in the 18th century, initially by the porcelain company of Meissen. They were copied by other companies and then recopied numbers of times. Hence the variety. Meissen still make their version. The pipe and tabor player was a member of a standard orchestra at Court and is still used to day in some orchestras in France. |
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1753-80 Meissen
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1747 Meissen |
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Sitzendorf
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21st century Aelteste Volkstedter |
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1753 Meissen candlestick (broken arms) |
1756 Chelsea |
1756-8 Chelsea | 1765 Meissen Germany | |||
drum missing |
20th century Meissen |
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Victorian |
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1880-1920 |
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early 20th century Sitzendorf |
early 20th century Sitzendorf |
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Sitzendorf |
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late 19th /early 20th Century |
20th century |
20th century |
20th century |
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Meissen, 20th c |
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1950's copy, Andrea by Sadek |
no pipe vestige of drumstick |
21st c Aelteste Volkstedter |
copy |
Please note that all these images are copyright.
Contact the museum or library concerned if you would like a larger copy or a better resolution image. If no link is given the item was sold at auction, sometimes individually and sometimes as part of a collection of monkey orchestra figures.
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