Biscuit Group Representing Four Musicians

Group in biscuit representing four musicians around a tree playing their instrument. Porcelain from Paris, probably Locré Period from the end of the 18th century Usual restorations, some slight lacks H. 36 x D. 16 cm At the end of the 18th century, sculpture took an important place in Parisian porcelain factories. Many of them employ important sculptors such as Laurent Russinger. In the 1780s, the biscuit became very fashionable, which led these so-called factories to employ more sculptors as well. Biscuit production offers ornamental pieces for apartments or for the table. The sponsors then arranged the decorative pieces as they wished on the table. The subjects are diverse, whether inspired by Antiquity, allegories, pastoral subjects. Thus, several factories in the capital were born, that of Locré (1772-1824) being the best known. The latter was founded by a fabric merchant, Jean-Baptiste Locré de Roissy. In 1772, he rented a house on rue Fontaine-au-Roi in which he set up the factory. The following year, he filed his mark consisting of two crossed torches. In 1787, the modeler Laurent Russinger, whom he had hired several years earlier, bought the said factory. The decorations are often white and gold, on a blue background or are made of many cookies.