Capriole

Country: Austria

Manufactory: Augarten

Date of establishment: 1950s

Size (cm): 30*27

Porcelain Story

I want to immediately draw your attention to the fact that on the left is a porcelain figurine from our collection. And on the right is a photograph we saw in one of the glossy magazines. Why did I decide to show them together? Now I will try to explain, because the history of this idea, believe me, deserves it.

To begin with, we visited one of the oldest porcelain manufactories in Europe - the Augarten, built in Vienna in 1718 - many years ago with our children. And, of course, we got great pleasure from visiting the wonderful porcelain museum located in the summer imperial residence of the Augarten, and from the opportunity to touch with our hands the materials from which beautiful porcelain compositions were created before our eyes. But no less than a visit to the museum exposition, we were struck by the Augarten park, created at the behest of Emperor Joseph II and turned into a park accessible to "all people" at his request.

In the Augarten park in previous centuries, festivals were regularly held for the dressage of horses of the Lipizzan breed. They were also called ''dancing Viennese stallions''. These horses, bred in their time at the stud farm owned by the Archduke Charles II, are distinguished by their medium size and at the same time the obvious power of the croup and the elegance of manners. Born dark, they brighten after 3-4 months and then remain a recognizable white or, rather, light gray color. The Lipizzans are very friendly and well trained. Perhaps that is why they are the main breed of horses used for centuries in the process of training riders at the famous Spanish riding school in Vienna.

In the capital of Austria, not only for solemn performances, but even for the morning training of these horses, tickets are sold and a huge number of tourists and connoisseurs gather. But to see the famous classical jumps performed by the Lipizzans is a separate topic for conversation. After all, such a jump, called capriol, is the most spectacular and most difficult to perform. The horse must make it, rearing up and at this moment from the place pushing off the ground.

And now the most interesting. Having acquired the statuette presented to your attention (unique! - pay attention to how the horse literally soars in the air next to the jockey!), I did not imagine that in a few years I would meet a photograph in a modern magazine that almost completely repeats this plot, but only in real life - at the anniversary festival at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna!.. Lipizzan's jump, his ammunition, jockey's clothes, harness - everything seems to be copied. But there is a distance between the production of our figurine and photography, at least 60 years old!