Figurine 1740 - 1760

This porcelain figurine was created by Paul Antoine Hannong in Strasbourg, France, sometime before 1760. It represents a young man in elaborate dress, perched on a faux-naturalistic stump while playing a hurdy-gurdy. The Hannong family played a crucial role in the westward dissemination of porcelain production. Prior to their factory, the secrets of porcelain had been largely confined to workshops in Meissen and East Asia. Figures such as this one were luxury objects, meant for display in the homes of the aristocracy and upper middle class, and were important commodities in the 18th century economy. The clothing of the figure is painted in careful detail, conveying the wealth and status of the person he represents, and this is a form of commercial and political messaging. To better understand this figurine, scholars consider the economic history of porcelain production as well as the social and cultural values it embodies. By studying inventories, trade records, and costume history, we can understand more about the society that produced and consumed it.