Browse

Accession #	68.87.55
Manufacturer	Union Porcelain Works
Artist	Karl L. H. Müller
Title	Statuette of Blacksmith
Date	ca. 1876
Medium	Unglazed porcelain
Dimensions	12 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 in. (30.5 x 12.1 x 12.1 cm)
Marks	Incised on back of block which supports anvil: "U.P.W. / GREENPOINT. / N.Y."; incised below block, "K. MULLER."
Inscriptions	no inscriptions
Signed	no signature
Credit Line	Gift of Franklin Chace
Location	Visible Storage: Case 36, Shelf K (Ceramics)
Description	Unglazed white porcelain figure of a naturalistically rendered blacksmith. Bearded man, standing, raises a pipe to his mouth with proper left hand and has proper right hand raised over head (hole through right hand, perhaps held a tool or something for lighting pipe); he wears hat, short-sleeved shirt, and an apron tied around his waist; he leans against a block supporting an anvil over which is his smock or coat; standing on a disk base with hammer, horseshoe, and pinchers at his feet. Condition: Fair; hairline cracks throughout, dirt in crevasses, and chips in brim of hat, bottom of apron, and around base.

Curatorial Remarks: Karl Mueller originally patented the design for this genre figure in 1868, producing it in several sizes in metal in partnership with his brother Nicholas. After he joined UPW, the figure was also produced in unglazed porcelain, or Parian ware.