A rare porcelain figure group depicting two Russian peasants, male and female, sitting on the ground, the male figure playing a stringed instrument, possibly a mandolin. Modelled in 1908 by Ernst Barlach and produced by Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst.

Height: 19.5cm
Width: 35.6cm
Depth: 27.0cm 

Artist signature on top of base. On the underside ‘Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst’ and fox – incised model number ‘U9’.

Condition : Excellent, no damages to the porcelain, checked with UV light.

Models can be seen in Museums worldwide including the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

German sculptor Ernst Barlach studied at the Hamburg School of Applied Arts and the Dresden Academy 1888-95, then lived in Paris for two years. Working primarily as a ceramicist, a trip to Russia in 1906 had a lasting influence on him, he exhibited sculptures of Russian folk life for the first time in 1907 at the Berlin Secession. He subsequently received numerous prominent public commissions. However Barlach was one of the artists targeted by the National Socialists and many of his works were confiscated or destroyed. Today he is considered one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century with many of his works exhibited in Museums worldwide.