Limited Edition Harlequin World of Meissen Patterns

Joseph Fröhlich and Gottfried "Baron" Schmiedel attained considerable fame as conjurors at the court of the Prince-Elector Frederick Augustus II. Jörg Danielczyk marked the Meissen manufactory's tercentenary in 2010 by creating the loveable figurine of a harlequin with a tiny golden bird in his hand.

The Manufactory is now re-issuing the tragi-comic figure with a new decorative scheme to celebrate Mr Danielczyk's 70th birthday. Porcelain painter Matthias Scholz tapped the infinite wealth of Meissen patterns created in over 300 years to this end. As well as the famous Onion Pattern, he also treats us to the Ming Dragon - a nod in the direction of early Meissen schemes after East Asian prototypes - and to a variety of ornamental devices and flowers.

The beholder may, upon closer inspection of the harlequin, be tempted to wonder what the artist's message might be. Maybe the bird is a metaphor for the importance of not letting happiness go? Or could it possibly be an allusion to how the search for gold culminated in the discovery of porcelain? Whatever, the Meissen Manufactory would like to wish one of its most accomplished modellers all the best for his birthday!