Three dancers

Art Historical Context

This delicate porcelain group, created around 1763 at the Ludwigsburg Porcelain Manufactory under the direction of modeler Joseph Nees, captures three dancers in mid-movement with remarkable grace. Standing just over six inches tall, the figures are rendered in hard-paste porcelain—a material European factories had only recently mastered after decades of experimentation to rival prized Chinese imports. The piece is vividly painted in polychrome enamels and accented with gold, highlighting the swirling skirts, expressive gestures, and lively interaction among the dancers. Produced during the h...