porcelain, tailor and ram wear pince-nez on their noses, the tailor sports a black tricorn with gold braid and a wig with a black bow, on his blue bag straps there is a brooch and a painted pair of scissors, needles, yarn and thimble, to one side hang pink and green balls of wool, he is wearing Baroque dress with a richly worked gilt pattern, gold braid, hooks and ribbons, beneath his jacket is a ruler, to the reverse a bag with sewing utensils, he holds red cord as reins, on the ram’s back is a red leather belt with a magnificent pin cushion, to the obverse, bags with fabric swatches, an iron and scissors, height 43.5 cm, length 43 cm, some restoration, Meissen, underglaze blue sword mark 2nd half of 19th cent., model by J. J. Kändler 1737 (Ru)

According to legend, the person depicted is the court tailor to August III, whose greatest wish was granted to him by the king: “One day, the court tailor asked if, instead of receiving a payment for his work, whether it would be possible for him to be present at the court table. He was not dismissed brusquely, but instead he was asked to come back to the royal palace some weeks later. When that day dawned, it seemed as if the tailor was about to be accorded an immense honour. Meanwhile, a commission for this group had been placed with the Meissen Manufactory. The court tailor appeared on the specified day, on which he was to join the company at the court table, and was shown ceremoniously from room to room to heighten his anticipation, until he could bear it no longer. To his astonishment and chagrin, he was forced to see that his likeness in porcelain had been laid out on the festively decorated table. This must have deeply affected him.” Lit.: Otto Walcha, Anekdotisches Porzellan, 1981, pp. 10-12 with illustration.