Exceptional Ludwigsburg Figurine — “The Musical Couple”, 18th-Century German Rococo (c.1750–1800)

Exceptional Ludwigsburg porcelain figurine — “The Musical Couple”, c. 1750–1800

This Ludwigsburg Figurine—“The Musical Couple”—was created by the Royal Ludwigsburg Manufactory in Germany and represents one of the most refined expressions of late-Rococo scène galante porcelain. The composition depicts a gentleman in a magenta coat and striped waistcoat playing the mandolin before a lady seated at a harp, a dialogue of gesture and musicality that reflects the cultural ideals of harmony, intimacy and polite conversation central to courtly life in mid-18th-century Europe.

Executed in hard-paste porcelain (kaolin, feldspar, quartz), this Ludwigsburg Figurine demonstrates the manufactory’s exceptional sculptural vocabulary: precise hand modeling, subtle polychrome enamels, delicately applied flowers and carefully judged gilded accents. Its condition is remarkable for the period, with no visible restorations or losses and only minimal gilt wear consistent with authentic historic display. Such preservation is characteristic of the finest surviving Ludwigsburg pieces and contributes substantially to its curatorial significance.

Dimensions
Height: 7.87 in (20 cm)
Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)
Depth: 4.72 in (12 cm)

Relevance
A museum-quality Ludwigsburg Figurine of notable rarity and aesthetic merit, suited to advanced collectors of European porcelain and to interiors where historically significant Rococo works are valued for their authenticity, craftsmanship and cultural depth.