Baron Schmiedel bust
by Johann Joachim Kändler
From the 1001 Remarkable Objects Powerhouse Museum Sydney. "1001 Remarkable Objects presents an unexpected juxtaposition of objects in 25 rooms that lead us on a journey across time and memory."
Smile on Saturday: Funny Art
"The satirical portrait bust of the court jester Johann Gottfried Tuscheer (born as Johann Gottfried Graf), better known as Baron Schmiedel or Postmaster Schmiedel, was one of the last royal commissions for the Japanese Palace of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733) and Elector of Saxony. The Japanese Palace was a lavish structure in Dresden refurbished to house both the fabulous royal collection of East Asian porcelains and the amazing new products of the Royal Saxon Porcelain Manufactory in Meissen near Dresden in Germany. Established in 1710, following re-discovery of secret Chinese porcelain formula by the King's imprisoned alchemist Johann Joachim Böttger, Meissen was Europe's first factory to make true or hard-paste porcelain. By the mid 1730s, the factory had been able to make monumental animal sculptures, apostle figures and even architectural elements alongside their exquisitely painted vases and tableware.
The bust was modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-75), the court 'Modellmeister' (master modeller) who worked at the Meissen manufactory from 1731 until his death in 1775. The bust was ordered by Augustus III, Augustus the Strong's son and successor. The medallion on Schmiedel's chest is based on one of Augustus' coronation medals.
A highly talented individual who delighted in dressing in the latest fashions, Schmiedel was one of two most prominent jesters at the Saxon court at the time. His role as a jester involved attending the kings in their dressing rooms, at dinners and even at the most intimate court gatherings. He kept company with the kings on visits and hunting expeditions, always ready to crack a joke, exchange witty badinage or play magic tricks with mice while pretendig to have morbid fear of rodents. Schmiedel was rewarded with numerous 'titles' and valuable presents including Meissen porcelain.
The Schmiedel bust was discovered in Sydney in 1949 by the noted Sydney antique dealer William Bradshaw at a time when its importance and history had been long forgotten. It was acquired by the Museum in 1951. One of the most important objects in the Powerhouse Museum's collection of ceramics, it is one of only four surviving the the world."
Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator
Baron Schmiedel bust
by Johann Joachim Kändler
From the 1001 Remarkable Objects Powerhouse Museum Sydney. "1001 Remarkable Objects presents an unexpected juxtaposition of objects in 25 rooms that lead us on a journey across time and memory."
Smile on Saturday: Funny Art
"The satirical portrait bust of the court jester Johann Gottfried Tuscheer (born as Johann Gottfried Graf), better known as Baron Schmiedel or Postmaster Schmiedel, was one of the last royal commissions for the Japanese Palace of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland (ruled 1694-1733) and Elector of Saxony. The Japanese Palace was a lavish structure in Dresden refurbished to house both the fabulous royal collection of East Asian porcelains and the amazing new products of the Royal Saxon Porcelain Manufactory in Meissen near Dresden in Germany. Established in 1710, following re-discovery of secret Chinese porcelain formula by the King's imprisoned alchemist Johann Joachim Böttger, Meissen was Europe's first factory to make true or hard-paste porcelain. By the mid 1730s, the factory had been able to make monumental animal sculptures, apostle figures and even architectural elements alongside their exquisitely painted vases and tableware.
The bust was modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-75), the court 'Modellmeister' (master modeller) who worked at the Meissen manufactory from 1731 until his death in 1775. The bust was ordered by Augustus III, Augustus the Strong's son and successor. The medallion on Schmiedel's chest is based on one of Augustus' coronation medals.
A highly talented individual who delighted in dressing in the latest fashions, Schmiedel was one of two most prominent jesters at the Saxon court at the time. His role as a jester involved attending the kings in their dressing rooms, at dinners and even at the most intimate court gatherings. He kept company with the kings on visits and hunting expeditions, always ready to crack a joke, exchange witty badinage or play magic tricks with mice while pretendig to have morbid fear of rodents. Schmiedel was rewarded with numerous 'titles' and valuable presents including Meissen porcelain.
The Schmiedel bust was discovered in Sydney in 1949 by the noted Sydney antique dealer William Bradshaw at a time when its importance and history had been long forgotten. It was acquired by the Museum in 1951. One of the most important objects in the Powerhouse Museum's collection of ceramics, it is one of only four surviving the the world."
Eva Czernis-Ryl, Curator