{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O119972"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O119972/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EC2805/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EC2805/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EC2805","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O119972/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O119972","accessionNumber":"C.52-2005","objectType":"Figure of pulcinella","titles":[{"title":"Pulcinella","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Pulcinella was one of the standard parts in the cast of the Italian Comedy (commedia dell’arte). He was a valet and rival and companion of Scaramouche. In Britain, he became known as Punch.\r\n\r\nAlthough badly damaged, the figure is of interest because of its provenance. It was found in the grounds of Holland House, the London house of Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams, who was the British Envoy at the Dresden court. In 1748, while stationed at Dresden, Hanbury-Williams was presented with diplomatic gifts of Meissen porcelain, and three years later he lent examples of Meissen from Holland House to the Chelsea factory in order for copies to be made. It is possible that this figure was originally owned by him. \r\n\r\nThe figure was modelled by the Chelsea factory modeller Joseph Willems, who copied a Meissen porcelain figure modelled by J. J. Kändler in 1748. Only one other version in Chelsea porcelain is known.","physicalDescription":"Porcelain figure, he stands in dancing pose, with his right arm and left leg raised (the former missing, and the latter broken at the ankle), and with very pronounced hump. He wears a pointed hat and mask, with hooked nose, divided down the middle, his left side of the mask being painted black. His suit has panels of geometric patterns alternating with plain pink silk. His jacket is secured by a row of globular gilded buttons and the back is painted with a pattern of scattered playing cards. He stands alongside (and is supported by) a tree stump growing from a circular pad base with applied flowers.\r\nMarks: a red anchor painted in red at base of tree stump; the base is painted in black with the modern reference number '3133 CR'","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Joseph Willems","id":"A1508"},"association":{"text":"modelled by","id":"x28693"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Chelsea Porcelain factory","id":"A9067"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"soft paste porcelain","id":"AAT10665"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Soft-paste porcelain, slip-cast, with lead glaze and painted in enamels and gilt","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"},{"text":"Porcelain","id":"THES48907"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2010EC2805"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"139 (VA)","id":"THES49874"},"free":"","case":"3","shelf":"5","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Chelsea","id":"x31142"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1755","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1759-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by The Hon. Mrs Charlotte Townshend","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"An anchor, painted in red","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"'3133 CR'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Modern reference number painted on base"}],"objectHistory":"Provenance: said to have been found on the site of Holland House, London, after it was bombed in 1940. Although badly damaged, the figure is of interest because of its provenance. It was found in the grounds of Holland House, the London house of Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams, who was the British Envoy at the Dresden court. In 1748, while stationed at Dresden, Hanbury-Williams was presented with diplomatic gifts of Meissen porcelain, and three years later he lent examples of Meissen from Holland House to the Chelsea factory in order for copies to be made. It is possible that this figure was originally owned by him.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figure of Pulcinella from the Italian Comedy (commedia dell'arte), damaged, made by Chelsea, modelled by Joseph Willems, ca. 1755.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Modelled by Joseph Willems, ca. 1755; copied from a Meissen figure modelled by J. J. Kändler in 1748.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Hanbury-Williams, Sir Charles","id":"N4795"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"commedia dell'arte","id":"AAT55912"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.52-2005"],"accessionNumberNum":"52","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":2005,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-19","recordCreationDate":"2005-12-20","availableToBook":false}}