Figure of the Day: Harlequin and Columbine, 19th C.

Columbine and Harlequin
Possibly French, Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

The work of an unknown modeler and porcelain concern, this Nineteenth Century figurine is most likely from France. The figure depicts a dancing couple who resembled Harlequin and Columbine—stock characters from the Italian Commedia dell’Arte.

It’s possible that the figures were copied from a print of dancers portraying these traditional roles. We can conclude that this might be the case because the female is wearing a “ballet-length” skirt and not the traditionally long skirt associated with the character of Columbine. Figures such as these had been made since the Eighteenth Century. As we know, they originally were made to grace a dining table during the dessert course. However, by the time this pair was modeled, these figures found a range of decorative uses. Characters from the Commedia dell’Arte were popular subjects because their colorful costumes worked well with any interior scheme.