Columbine and Pantaloon 1731 - 1741

This porcelain sculpture, made by the Meissen Manufactory, depicts Columbine and Pantaloon, stock characters from the Commedia dell'Arte. The sculpture gives us a glimpse into the cultural landscape of 18th-century Europe. Commedia dell'Arte, with its roots in Italian street theater, had become a popular form of entertainment across the continent. The Meissen factory, established in Germany, capitalized on this popularity by producing figurines like these for aristocratic consumers. The characters' exaggerated costumes and gestures, rendered in delicate porcelain, reflect the tastes of the time. The figurines would have been displayed in cabinets, signaling the owner’s sophisticated taste and wealth. By studying such objects, we can learn about the social and cultural values of the past. We can use archives, play scripts, and fashion plates to understand the history of Commedia dell'Arte, the Meissen factory, and the aristocratic culture that consumed these figurines.