Child (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This charming porcelain figurine, titledChild (one of a)*, hails from the Fulda Pottery and Porcelainufactory in Germany, around 1781. Standing just 5 9/16 inches tall, it depicts a young boy, crafted in delicate hard-paste porcelain—a technically advanced material pioneered in Europe by Meissen in the early 18th century. Fulda's manufactory, active from the 1770s in Hesse, emulated this innovation to produce refined, translucent wares rivaling the finest European porcelain centers. Hard-paste porcelain's durability and brilliance allowed for intricate modeling and vibrant polychrome enameling, hallmarks of late Rococo and emerging Neoclassical styles. These small-scale figures were prized as tabletop decorations in affluent 18th-century homes, symbolizing innocence and domestic joy. Paired with its mate, this piece likely formed a playful duo, showcasing Fulda's skill in capturing naturalistic poses and expressions. Now part of The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it exemplifies German ceramic artistry's golden age, blending technical mastery with whimsical appeal for collectors today.