Lady with hurdy-gurdy 1745 - 1760

This delicate porcelain figurine was crafted at the Saint James's Factory in the mid-18th century. A lady graces us with her presence, clutching a hurdy-gurdy. But look closer, what is the symbolic weight of this musical instrument? In the 18th century, the hurdy-gurdy was often associated with wandering musicians and the lower classes. Yet, the delicate rendering of this figure suggests a different narrative. Does it point to a romanticized view of pastoral life, a common theme in aristocratic art, or is it a more profound reflection on the changing social landscape of the time? The musical instrument resurfaces in various contexts through time, carrying with it shifting class connotations. In the Middle Ages, similar instruments appear in depictions of courtly love. The cyclical progression of this object reminds us that cultural symbols are in constant flux, acquiring new layers of meaning.