Volkstedt (Rudolstadt) - Sculpture, La bella cioccolataia di Jean-Étienne Liotard La "Portatrice di Caffè" - 1890 - 11 cm - Porcelain
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€ 3
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Selected by John Laurance
Thirty years' experience in decorative objects and two decades as shop owner.
Estimate € 100 - € 150
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A white porcelain figurine by Volkstedt (Rudolstadt), depicting a coffee bearer with a tray, jug and two cups, marked underneath and 11 cm high.
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Description from the seller
Are you ready to make space in your collection for an authentic jewel of European manufacturing history?
This magnificent figurative sculpture is not simply an antique object, but a fragment of pure visual poetry captured in “white gold.”
The sculpture depicts a young, elegant servant woman – or a noblewoman in 18th‑century attire – caught in the intimate and ritual moment of serving the era’s most noble beverage: coffee or hot chocolate.
With regal bearing and her head gently tilted back, the figure holds a finely shaped tray on which rest a tall, slender jug and two delicate service cups.
Made in the finest white monochrome porcelain with a glossy finish, the figurine plays deftly with natural shadows. The soft drapery of the skirt and the gathered details of the gown catch the light from every angle, imparting a sense of fluid movement and dramatic realism typical of the Late Baroque / Rococo style.
The back of the base bears the unmistakable blue underglaze mark depicting the letter “V” surmounted by two crossed swords (or forked lines), historically associated with the prestigious Volkstedt Porcelain Manufactory, founded in Thuringia in 1760.
Volkstedt is renowned worldwide for rivaling giants like Meissen in purity and quality. The factory’s historic modelers and designers were masters at capturing genre scenes of courtly and everyday life in the 18th century, infusing psychological expressiveness even into miniature faces. This sculpture represents the quintessence of that artisanal philosophy.
Vintage condition as shown in the photos – please study the gallery pictures carefully
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateAre you ready to make space in your collection for an authentic jewel of European manufacturing history?
This magnificent figurative sculpture is not simply an antique object, but a fragment of pure visual poetry captured in “white gold.”
The sculpture depicts a young, elegant servant woman – or a noblewoman in 18th‑century attire – caught in the intimate and ritual moment of serving the era’s most noble beverage: coffee or hot chocolate.
With regal bearing and her head gently tilted back, the figure holds a finely shaped tray on which rest a tall, slender jug and two delicate service cups.
Made in the finest white monochrome porcelain with a glossy finish, the figurine plays deftly with natural shadows. The soft drapery of the skirt and the gathered details of the gown catch the light from every angle, imparting a sense of fluid movement and dramatic realism typical of the Late Baroque / Rococo style.
The back of the base bears the unmistakable blue underglaze mark depicting the letter “V” surmounted by two crossed swords (or forked lines), historically associated with the prestigious Volkstedt Porcelain Manufactory, founded in Thuringia in 1760.
Volkstedt is renowned worldwide for rivaling giants like Meissen in purity and quality. The factory’s historic modelers and designers were masters at capturing genre scenes of courtly and everyday life in the 18th century, infusing psychological expressiveness even into miniature faces. This sculpture represents the quintessence of that artisanal philosophy.
Vintage condition as shown in the photos – please study the gallery pictures carefully
Seller's Story
Welcome to our Catawiki store. Our journey in online sales began back in 2004, driven by a clear vision: creating online auctions dedicated to high-value objects.
Today, more than twenty years later, we carry forward that exact same vision. We are proud to have remained a small, family-run business, yet operating with the solidity and scale of major industry professionals: each year, we welcome more than 100 new clients, purchase over 150 lots, and select between 3,000 and 5,000 unique items to offer you.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from the initial find to the final delivery to your doorstep:
• A Purchase with Social Value: Buying from us means securing a great deal while actively supporting the future of young Italian students. We collaborate closely with 3 graphic design and advertising schools in Milan, Bergamo, and Lecco.
We invest our time and expertise to teach these students the secrets of online sales, professional photography, and marketing. By choosing us, you are tangibly contributing to their education and career paths.
• Field Research and Discovery: For years, we have been personally scouting the most remote locations across Lombardy to find unique pieces, rarities, oddities, and mid-century modern design.
• We Invest Our Own Capital: We do not sell on consignment. We invest our own capital upfront to purchase and restore every single item, taking on all the risks ourselves.
• Direct Dealings with No Intermediaries: We manage every single price personally.
This allows us to eliminate third-party costs and ensure you get the best possible profit margin as a buyer or collector.
• Meticulous Restoration and Quality Control: We get our hands dirty. Every item is carefully restored and verified with an obsessive eye for detail before going up for auction.
• Secure and Eco-Friendly Shipping: To prevent inflated shipping costs and ensure indestructible packaging, my wife and I head out almost every evening, often at unusual hours, to collect heavy-duty industrial cardboard from businesses in our neighborhood.
We hand-select only pre-evaluated, ultra-resistant materials to offer you maximum protection at the lowest possible cost.
Choosing our lots means relying on the historic expertise of a family that has lived this passion since 2004, while investing in the next generation. Our schools and students thank you deeply for your trust.
Happy bidding!
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1400-1900
Manufacturer/brand
Volkstedt (Rudolstadt)
Over 200 years old
No
Country of origin
Germany
Material
Porcelain
Title of artwork
La bella cioccolataia di Jean-Étienne Liotard La "Portatrice di Caffè" - 1890
Signature
Branded below
Condition
Good condition
Height
11 cm
Width
4 cm
Depth
3.5 cm
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