Four musicians
ca. 1765–70
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Height: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Mennecy
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1943
Accession Number
43.100.30
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the enchanting world of 18th French porcelain with *Four Musicians*, a delightful soft-paste porcelain group crafted at the Mennecy factory 1765–70. Standing at 8½ inches tall, this figurine captures a lively ensemble of musicians—men and women poised with violins—evoking the joyous spirit of Rococo-era entertainments. Mennecy, a lesser-known but innovative manufactory near Paris, specialized in such whimsical, colorful ceramic sculptures, bridging the gap between luxury tableware and decorative art. Soft-paste porcelain, the medium here, was a French specialty before the advent of ...