Pantaloon

ca. 1751-53

This figure represents a character from Commedia dell'arte, the farcical Italian theatre. The old man Pantaloon is the father of the female lover, Isabella. All the characters, with the exception of the lovers, wore stylized masks, usually of leather or papier-mâché. The masks concealed the actors' facial expressions from the audience, so gestures and mime were greatly exaggerated. Even though the porcelain figures were often created without masks, this figure of Pantaloon illustrates the importance of the grand gesture.

Hard paste porcelain

7 x 4 1/2 in. (17.8 x 11.43 cm)

Gift of Martha and Henry Isaacson

76.88

Provenance: Collection of Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson, unknown purchase date until 1976; gift from Mr and Mrs Henry and Martha Isaacson to Seattle Art Museum, Washington, 1976

Photo: Paul Macapia

Now on view at the Seattle Art Museum

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe", February 17, 2000-May 7, 2000

Osaka and Hiroshima, Japan, Mitsukoshi Museums, Koimari-Arita Wares and Early European Porcelains, March 6-May 20, 1979

Published ReferencesEmerson, Julie, Jennifer Chen, & Mimi Gardner Gates, "Porcelain Stories, From China to Europe", Seattle Art Museum, 2000, pg. 229

Koimari-Kakizaemon toji koryuten = Koimari-Arita Wares and Early European Porcelains: 85 Masterpieces from the Martha and Henry Isaacson Collection, the Seattle Art Museum. Tokyo: Mitsukoshi honten, 1979, cat. #129

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