Need some help please

Finally!! I have something I think is worthy of posting here. Except I know nothing about it. Can anyone point me in the right direction to research this porcelain relief?

 

Beautiful all!
Any info on the back?

 

No info for you, but just wanted to say how interesting that is!

 

Let me see if this will post right side up for you....it's hard to look at it the other way.

 

HA! That was next. Thanks!
Almost fell of my chair twice.

 

So sorry about the falling off your chair part. I didn't realize I could change it. It's hard to find good help these days. Haha. There is nothing on the back. The back in covered in old fabric. I hate to take it apart.

 

You may not have been able to. Happens to me a lot.

 

You might get better search results by using the word "plaque" instead of "relief." Probably continental - German? Getting it out of the frame is about the only way I know of to see of there are better clues to maker or time frame.

 

I haven't any info for you either. Germany sounds like a good possibility. With the grape vines and the bearded chap, this appears to be a rendition of a Bacchus drinking orgy. I searched in hoping of finding a famous painting or relief that this was copied from - no luck.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bac...w=1280&bih=513#tbm=isch&q=bacchus+orgy+relief

--- Susan

 

I think Italy imported these in the early to mid 1900s, but I am not 100% sure of this.
Double check that it is porcelain and not resin

 

I wonder if it's plaster.

 

I'd like to see a picture of the back anyway. Sometimes the look of the paper or whatever is on the back can help be a clue to date.

It's very unusual, I think it is fantastic.

 

KPM did a lot of this type of porcelain plaques and bring really nice $$$, but it would be marked on back if KPM. My guess would be Germany or Austria. Very lovely by the way!

 

Thanks everyone for the info. It's at a friends right now, so I won't be able to post pics of the back yet. I really think it's porcelain, cause I can't stand the feel. Yuck, kinda like touching a flower pot, but smooth. I realize I need to take the back off. When I do, I'll post more pics.

 

No hurry...

I'm suggesting that you take a photo of the back without opening anything up. (For now, at least.) You mentioned "the back in covered in old fabric".

Wouldn't mind seeing "the old fabric".

 

Here is a pic of the back. The fabric is very fragile. I found out a little more info on it. It was purchased in Long Island 25 years from an estate sale at a Victorian house. Also that it's German. Still clear as mud.

 

I have searched around finding porcelain plaques but very very few in relief like this one. Most of them with cherubs fluttering around are described as "in the manner of Peter Paul Rubens" or "after Peter Paul Rubens." If the owners know the country of origin it is most often Germany. Here are a few.

Here are a couple by KPM with marks on the back as jackolin said:
http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2542B/lots/45
http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2379/lots/132

Marked on the back by Christian Fisher Pirkenhammer Bohemia, Germany.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SALE-Large-...ana-c-1850-after-Rubens-KPM-qty-/111975402867

Here are couple of the few relief ones I found. Both are said to be by Capodimonte. If really by Capodimonte, it would be out of Italy.
https://auctions.bidsquare.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/281/lot/105092
https://auctions.bidsquare.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/1565/lot/544377

--- Susan

 

The back looks like it has been repaired with tape at some point. It has already lost any integrity it had. I would rip the center section off in a heartbeat to see what I had, were it mine.

 

Meant to add to my previous reply, the central section of this porcelain may be central to what the scene is portraying. In the center is a woman holding up a spear riding in a type of chariot/cart pulled by 2 lions and probably being welcomed. It may represent Diana (goddess of the hunt who sometimes is shown with a spear) returning from a hunt or of Athena (goddess of wisdom, war, etc.. usually shown with a spear) being welcomed. Cons against these ideas is that Diana usually has a small moon on her head and Athena 99.9% of the time is wearing a helmet and has a shield along with a spear. I can't see the woman well enough to accept or reject who she might be. Anyways, thought I'd throw out these ideas.

--- Susan