The Coiffure

Art Historical Context

*The Coiffure*, crafted around 1770 by modeler Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel the Ludwigsburgcelain Manufactory in, captures a whimsical domestic scene in hard-paste porcelain. This petite figurine group, measuring just under 5 inches tall, depicts figures engaged in hairdressing—complete with ladders, mirrors, men, women, and playful dogs—evoking the elaborate hairstyles and bustling routines of 18th-century European life. The title, French for "the hairdo," hints at the Rococo era's fascination with fashion, vanity, and lighthearted genre scenes. Ludwigsburg, a Württemberg rival to renowned porcelain centers like Meissen, excelled in vibrant, polychrome enameling on durable hard-paste porcelain, a technically demanding material fired at high temperatures for strength and translucency. Riedel's modeling showcases the manufactory's skill in lively compositions, with intricate details in fabrics, fur, and expressions that bring the tableau to life. These tableaus were prized as decorative objets d'art for affluent homes, blending artistry with everyday charm. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department as a gift from Irwin Untermyer in 1964, *The Coiffure* offers a delightful glimpse into German porcelain's golden age, where technical innovation met cultural whimsy.