Made in 1739, the satirical portrait bust of the court jester Johann Gottfried Tuscheer known as Baron Schmiedel, was one of the last Royal commissions for the Japanese Palace of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733) and Elector of Saxony. Japanese Palace was a lavish structure in Dresden refurbished to house both the fabulous Royal collection of East Asian porcelains and the amazing new products of the Royal Saxon Porcelain Manufactory in Meissen near Dresden in Germany. Established in 1710, following the re-discovery of porcelain formula by the King's imprisoned alchemist Johann Joachim Böttger, Meissen was Europe's first factory of true or hard-paste porcelain. By the mid 1730s the factory was able to make monumental animal sculptures, apostle figures and even architectural elements alongside their exquisitely painted vases and tableware.

The bust was finely modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-75), the court 'Modellmeister' (master modeller) who worked at the Meissen manufactory from 1731 until his death in 1775. The bust was ordered by Augustus III, Augustus the Strong's son and successor. The medallion that hangs around Schmiedel's neck is based on one of Augustus' III coronation medals.

Schmiedel was a remarkable individual - he was one of the two most prominet jesters at the Saxon court. His role as jester involved attending the kings in their dressing rooms, at dinners and even at the most intimate court gatherings. He kept company with the kings on visits and hunting expeditions, always ready to crack a joke, exchange witty badinage or play magic tricks with mice (he was well known for his morbid fear of all rodents). Schmiedel was rewarded with numerous 'titles' and valuable presents including Meissen porcelain.

The Schmiedel bust was discovered in Sydney in 1949 by the noted antique dealer William Bradshaw at a time when its importance and history had been long forgotten by its owners. It was acquired by the Museum in 1950. This bust is one of only three examples of this design known to exist, and is among the most important objects in the Museum's collection of ceramics.

Author: Eva Czernis-Ryl

For full story see: E. Czernis-Ryl, 'The golden years of Meissen porcelain and Saxon jesters: the Schmiedel bust in Australia', Keramik-Freunde der Schweiz (Bulletin des Amis Suisses de la Ceramique), Mitteilungsblatt nr 104, October 1989, pp.5-11

The bust of Baron Schmiedel was modelled by Johan Joachim Kandler in Germany during 1739.

Portrait bust, 'Baron' Schmiedel, hard paste porcelain, modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler, Royal Saxon Porcelain Manufactory, Meissen, Germany (then Holy Roman Empire), 1739

A head and shoulders portrait bust in glazed white hard-paste porcelain . The piece is naturalistically modelled to portray a solidly built man with the head turned to his right, with an up curled moustache and wearing a wig with queue (pigtail) would around with a ribbon. His elaborate costume includes a tricorn (three-pointed hat) with a bow set on the left, an unbuttoned, embroidered collarless coat and waistcoat and undershirt. A large medallion with a profile portrait of Augusts III, hangs from a cord that sits around his neck and chest. There is a badge on the left attached to his coat, with the Royal Polish and Saxon coats of arms. Above the badge there are two small chains with a post horn hanging from them. A cloak is draped across the man's body and there are small watch fobs attached just below its curve ; one mouse dangles by its tail from his mouth, another is in the crown of the hat and the third sits on his right shoulder.

Artist: Kandler, Johan Joachim; Meissen, Germany; 1739

No marks.

H5127

1739

49.2 mm

360 mm

260 mm