CIRCA 1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK TO BACK OF BASE

Probably modelled by Peter Reinicke between 1744 and 1747, this is one of an early group of seven Cris de Paris figures that were modelled after engravings by Anne Claude Philippe, Comte de Caylus (1692-1757) and drawings by Edmé Bouchardon (1698-1762). An entry in Reinicke's work report of August 1747 records 'Tabulet-Träger-Figur in Thon repariert' ('Hawker's tray/peddler figure in clay, repaired') which may reference the present model.¹ Stylistically the modelling and pose of each figure in this series would suggest that they were very likely modelled by Reinicke, but it is also probable that J.J. Kändler, would have had some involvement in correcting and improving these models.

The comte de Caylus’s 60 Cris de Paris etchings and engravings formed five suites, of which each consisted of twelve criers. These were first published in book format between 1737 and 1746 and it seems probable, bearing in mind the dating of the Work Report discussed above, that the Meissen manufactory acquired this series of engravings shortly after they were first published.

For an illustration of another trinket-seller and Caylus's etching of Des Couteaux, des Cizeaux, des Peignes (Knives, Scissors and Combs) see Vanessa Sigalas and Meredith Chilton, Ibid., 2022, pp. 258-259, cat. no. 68, fig. 20.


1. See Meissen Manufactory Archive, BA III H 117 (transcript), 78, cited by Vanessa Sigalas and Meredith Chilton, All Walks of Life, A Journey With The Alan Shimmerman Collection, Stuttgart, 2022, p. 253.