Figure of the Day: Columbine, 1950

Columbine
Glazed Porcelain Flatback
Venice, Italy, 1950-60
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Though this Italian glazed porcelain figurine is undated, we can tell by the style of its costume with its impossibly tiny waist, that it was probably made in the late 1950s or early 1960s.  Yes, that’s right—1950’s.  I’m writing about something from the last century.

This figure was most likely created with the tourist market in mind, designed to catch the eye of visitors to Venice who were looking for something pretty to bring home and put on their pianos or mantelpieces.

The figurine depicts the character of Columbine standing in front of a Venetian gondola post. It is essentially a Twentieth Century flatback-- designed on one plane to be seen only from the front.  This was made as part of a pair with the other figure depicting.

Columbine was a character from the Italian traditional panto comedy known as the Commedia dell'Arte which flourished throughout Europe from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth centuries and from which developed our Mr. Punch.

Columbina, as she was known in Italy, was a lady's maid who was soon called “Columbine” in France and England. In her native country, Columbine had been called by a series of other names before settling on the one which still carries today.  These names included Franceschina, Smeraldina, Oliva, Nespola, Spinetta, Ricciolina, Corallina, Diamantina and Lisetta.

Columbine’s relationship with Harlequin was the central romantic interest in Commedia dell’Arte plays.  She was portrayed as being in love with the rascally Harlequin.  However, she was always shown as being aware of Harlequin’s foibles and much of the comedy came from her attempts to change him.  Typically, Columbine was costumed to match Harlequin's attire in a gown of a patchwork of multi-colored diamond shapes.

Here, Columbine is depicted as a blonde dancer wearing a black mask and a multi-colored, calf-length, flared skirt with fitted jacket and sleeves. The figure sports underglaze decoration in blue, pink, green, yellow, orange and purple, and an overglaze with gilt detail for edging and around the lozenge shapes on the dress.