Polish handkiss
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Height: 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
German, Meissen
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
Accession Number
64.101.117
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the enchanting *Polish Handkiss*, a ca. 1744 hard-paste porcelain figurine by the masterful Johann Joachim Kändler for renowned Meissen Manufactory. Standing 6 7/8 inches tall, this delicate sculpture captures a gallant moment: a Polish nobleman in traditional attire gracefully kissing a lady's hand, accompanied by playful dogs at their feet. Kändler's dynamic modeling brings life to the scene, with flowing garments, expressive faces, and intricate details that exemplify the exuberant Rococo style. Meissen, the pioneering European center for true hard-paste porcelain since 1710, revolu...