"Monkey Band Orchestra In Porcelain By Samson After Meissen"
Edmé Samson (Paris 1810-1891).Paris, 19th century, circa 1860.
Orchestra of musician monkeys in polychrome porcelain dressed in the fashion of the 18th century, holding scores and playing multiple instruments to the rhythm of the conductor.
It includes 11 pieces including nine musicians, a conductor and a music stand on terraces highlighted with rocaille ornaments in relief enhanced with gold.
Average height: 13 cm, conductor 18.5 cm
Excellent condition.
The set presented in a lacquered and gilded wooden Opera from the same period
Mark with crossed swords in blue, S for Samson underglaze.
Dimensions: L 52 x D 20 H 52 cm
This orchestra of musical monkeys evokes the Affenkapelle of Meissen from the 1750s, one of the last works of JJ Kändler (1706-1775), inspired by the "Singeries", frescoes and paintings depicting these animals imitating human activities.
The Samson factory, founded in 1845, claimed its ability to imitate the rarest ceramics.
Bibliography: Florence Slitine, Samson génie de l'imitation, Paris, 2002, Ed. Massin.
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