Figure of a Man with Grapes
c. 1790
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain with polychrome enamel decoration and gilding
Dimensions
13.8 × 5.3 cm (5 7/16 × 2 1/4 in.)
Classification
sculpture
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
18040
Art Historical Context
Created around 1790 by the Limbach Porcelain Factory in Germany, *Figure of a Man with Grapes* exemplifies the refined decorative sculpture produced by European porcelain manufactories in the late eighteenth century. Standing just 13.8 centimeters tall, this small soft-paste porcelain figure was designed as an elegant tabletop ornament, reflecting the period’s taste for intimate, finely detailed objects that brought color and narrative to domestic interiors. The work showcases the technical artistry of soft-paste porcelain, a delicate material prized for its smooth surface and ability to capt...