1890s Schafer & Vater Figurine & Catchall

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Description

Though Schafer & Vater eventually became famous for its production of playful and ironic (although of middling quality) porcelain, jasperware … Read more Though Schafer & Vater eventually became famous for its production of playful and ironic (although of middling quality) porcelain, jasperware and ceramic wares, it started out as a porcelain house producing items a super fine quality, by connoisseurs of the Victorian Era. This exemplar comes from the earliest period of production at Schafer & Vater. The level of attention paid to fine detail and fine craftsmanship is inspiring; there are strategic folds in the tattered clothes lifelike stress in the boy' muscles, exact detail in the facial features, hair, fingers and toes. There is even excessive detail given to the secondary subject matter of the figurine, the wooden barrel is covered with storied detail.

The central color is a bone white, shadowed with a matte gold. The exhaust holes are cleverly hidden. The "wooden barrel" upon which the boys play is a utilitarian open space, into which one may place whatever is desired, cigarettes, pencils, desk items, . . .perhaps flowers. The vessel space is a bright white. The underside of the figurine is matte gold, bearing the number 5339 ( I believe) and the makers' mark of Schafer & Vater. One can even see faint fingerprints in the substrate made by the original hand maker, or decorator.

This is a fabulous porcelain exemplar with a loving and playful subject matter. It brightens the mood wherever it sits, even as it highlights children, obvious to the fact that we might consider them down on their luck. IT is 6.25" tall, 4.5" deep and 5.25" tall.

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