Burgermeister's wife with dogs c. 18th century

Johann Joachim Kändler crafted this porcelain sculpture of a Burgermeister's wife, whose date is not known, reflecting the opulence and social stratification of 18th-century Saxony. The sculpture portrays a woman of high social standing, identified as the wife of a mayor, adorned in an elaborate floral dress and lavished with not one, but two dogs. In this period, porcelain figurines like this were fashionable displays of wealth. The inclusion of the dogs speaks to the sitter's identity and status, as they were symbols of both luxury and companionship. The burgermeister's wife is not simply a portrait of a woman; it is a statement about power, gender, and the material culture of the elite. By accentuating the performative aspects of identity, this sculpture serves as an emblem of societal values, inviting contemplation on the dynamics of class and gender in the historical narrative.