A SUPERB and EXTREMELY RARE Meissen porcelain figure group, C.1740 / 45. Modeled by J.J. KANDLER. Called 'The Impetuous Lover. From The Commedia D'Elle Arte, or also known as the Italian Comedy. Please see below for an almost identical piece sold by Christies London  for £93,750. I am VERY proud to offer this  from my private collection, and I offer it with a heavy heart in case it sells, as I have treasured it for 25 years. Originally, it came from Sothebys New York who are experienced auctioneers and sell Meissen before 1760 regularly, and said, "Harlequin is conducting the lovers", and "that the cupid was mocking the lover".  (See my photo from their catalogue).  A really amusing funny group, typical of the Commedia D'Elle Arte, and really FULL OF MOVEMENT. Also, note THE REALLY STRONG EARLY COLOURS, PARTICULARLY ON HARLEQUIN.  His colours are SUPERB, and his face has wonderful character. Just like the Christies one below.  The other provenance, is that it  was auctioned by Christie's Geneva, 30th April 1975, lot 136. Collection of Marian and Michael Sabee  I also have a provenance of a full double page catalogue entry in  Lempertz Koln in Germany who are top notch auctioneers who sell 18th century Meissen regularly.   SEE ALL THE INFORMATION BELOW. Including being in Kandler's taxa, and an example in the Gardiner Museum Toronto. 

SIZE:- 7 ins / 17.5 cms high by 6 1/2 ins / 16.5 cms across.

CONDITION:-  EXCELLENT, AND I MUST ASSUME SIMILAR TO CHRISTIES FIGURE( I CAN'T GET THIS REPORT). MINE HAS HER NECK RESTORED  EXTREMELY CLEVERLY. HER FINGERS ON HER RAISED HAND RESTORED, END OF HER ONE FOOT TOES MISSING. HARLEQUIN'S EDGE OF HAT RESTORED. END OF FOOT AT BASE RESTUCK TO MAN THESE RELATIVELY MINOR RESTORATIONS ARE PROFESSIONAL AND  ALMOST INVISIBLE. Obviously, except for her missing end of her toes. THE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE CUPID HAS HAD HIS WINGS RESTUCK CLEVERLY.  Such an extremely vulnerable piece like this that is near 300 years old would never be perfect, so these restorations are perfectly normal.

I would be amazed if Christies figure was any better condition, and could have been worse. However, the buyers clearly accepted it. Also, I consider mine better painted, as the lady has typical Meissen pre 1760 colours, and the man has stronger colours.  

I COULD EVEN BE PERSUADED TO MEET IN PERSON TO COMPLETE THE SALE FOR THE BUYER'S COMPLETE SATISFACTION, AS I REALIZE THAT IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. ALSO, PAYPAL CHARGES ME 4.25% . Therefore, with bank transfer or cash, I can reduce by 4.25% or £1,500 .

CHRISTIES AUCTIONEERS LONDON link below, and sold at £93,750. This was bought by Langeloh who are dealers selling some of the finest porcelain in the world. They had sold this one now, so obviously for more than £93,000, and see link below to their website . They have another similar group up for sale as the prestigious  TEFAF Maastricht 2025 I have not asked the price, but it will definitely not be less than £100,000.  

https://langeloh-porcelain.de/en/katalog/meissen-gruppen-figuren/der-ungestume-liebhaber-b9

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-meissen-porcelain-group-of-the-impetuous-6235034/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6235034&lid=1

CHRISTIES- LONDON sale 13th November 2019, lot number 68, with full photos. Sold for £93,750, and link to this above.

"A MEISSEN PORCELAIN GROUP OF THE IMPETUOUS LOVER

CIRCA 1740-45, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK AND PRESSNUMMER 45 TWICE"

Modelled by J.J. Kändler, with a shepherdess turning away from her kneeling lover, with Cupid pulling his hair and with Harlequin behind them, on a shaped mound base applied with flowers and foliage

6 ½ in. (16.5 cm.) high"

My full research below.

This group is mentioned in Kändler's Taxa where he describes the scene in detail. The group portrays a high ranking lady, dressed as a shepherdess, courted by a youth who is below her in rank and wealth (indicated by his out-turned empty pocket). Cupid restrains and beats the youth as unworthy of the match and Harlequin stands behind them all, mocking the suitor and gesticulating with his fingers..

An example of this model is in The Gardiner Museum, Toronto (museum number G83.1.911). See also Ulrich Pietsch et al., Triumph of the Blue Swords, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Exhibition Catalogue, 

Dresden 2010, pp. 317-318, no. 351

A further group illustrated in cat. Triumph der blauen Schwerter. Meissener Porzellan für Adel und Bürgertum 1710 - 1815, Dresden-Leipzig 2010, no. 351. Therein an excerpt from Kaendler's workshop records as of 1740: "1. [Groupgen] dergl. aus 4 Figuren bestehend, da eine Schäferin auf Rasen sizt, zu der sich ein sauber angekleideter Jüngling findet, der sie lieben will, die sich aber weigert, auf dem Jüngling ist Cupido, der ihn bey den Haaren hält, und ihn mit seinen Bogen auf den Kopff prügelt, dabey ein Arleqvin stehe, und den Jüngling auslacht, 12 Thlr." (transcribed by Johannes Rafael, Keramos 203/204/2009, p. 47, no. 21). Cf. also Chilton, Harlequin Unmasked: The Commedia dell'Arte and Porcelain Sculpture, Yale University Press 2011, p. 306, showing two versions of the group and suggesting a production date for the model of 1743 due to the presence of a model number. There are other versions of the group with either a dog or a sheep on the base and in which either Cupid or Harlequin are not featured. An example with the sheep was formerly housed in the collection of Jörg Nelte, which was auctioned by Christie's London on 12th October 1995 as lot 46. Cf. also the example in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss collection in Menzhausen/Karpinski, In Porzellan verzaubert, Basel 1993, p. 150 f. Cf. also Hackenbroch, Meissen and other Continental Porcelain Faience and Enamel in the Irwin Untermyer Collection, Cambridge 1956, fig. 102, pl. 66. A further model published in cat. Hidden Valuables. Early-Period Meissen Porcelains from Swiss Private Collections, Munich-Stuttgart 2020, no. 170.