Figurine “Girl with Grapes”

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Germany, Meissen. 

The girl is depicted standing barefoot and shown at full length. Her light brown hair is gathered and tied with a green ribbon forming a bow. She has brown eyes, dark eyebrows, and rosy cheeks. She wears a white blouse with voluminous sleeves, a yellow corset with front lacing and red lace trim, and a full light-purple skirt with a dark band along the lower edge. Her white apron is decorated with blue and purple flowers. With her right hand, the girl holds the edge of the apron, while in her left hand she holds a ripe cluster of blue grapes with green leaves. Her body is slightly tilted backwards, and her head is turned in a half-profile to the left. Behind her is a woven basket filled with ripe grapes.

The figure stands on a circular base. The upper part of the base is designed as two tiers of ochre-coloured brickwork, while the lower part is white and decorated with raised vegetal elements highlighted in gold.

The base is hollow inside. The reverse bears the manufacturer’s mark in the form of two crossed dark-blue swords.

The composition is asymmetrical, with numerous folds in the clothing and a dynamic posture. The carefully modelled fingers and toes, finely rendered facial features, and detailed treatment of the clothing are characteristic of Meissen porcelain production and demonstrate the high quality of the workmanship.

Provenance: The object was transferred to the museum by the State Customs Control Service in 1996.