Rococo Lady on a swing

Country: Spain

Manufactory: Lladro

Date of establishment: 2009

Sculptor: Alfredo Llorens

Size (cm): 36*23

Porcelain Story

The auction house Sotheby's recently put up for auction a painting by the great Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. It is called "Reclining Nude (on the left side)". Painted in 1917, this painting managed to set a price record in the very first moment of its presentation at the upcoming auction. The starting price of the lot is $150 million. Until that moment, the world record for the starting price had been held by Pablo Picasso's Women of Algeria, painted in 1955. Experts estimated the work at $140 million, and then it was sold for $179 million. What am I talking about and what does the porcelain composition presented to your attention have to do with Modigliani's paintings? I have already several times, presenting earlier porcelain works by Spanish sculptors, talked about the brilliant, albeit somewhat eccentric, like many other geniuses, Amedeo Modigliani, and about porcelain works created based on his works. In particular, you can easily find "Rococo Lady at the Ball" in the archive of our section.

Now I draw your attention to the "Rococo Lady on a Swing". The work is amazing and rare. Not like other porcelain works in many nuances. And not only technological. What is the palpable texture of the heroine's dress with patterns of muted color, tangible at the touch. And the finest flowers! And the lady's narrow waist, characteristic of the Rococo era, her incredible hairstyle, so skillfully conveyed! And the dynamics of the heroine swinging on a swing, as if hanging in the air!..

Of course, porcelain works created based on the motives of outstanding artists have never cost and probably will not cost as much as the originals of their paintings. And in general, sales of porcelain at large auctions are extremely rare. And, if they do happen, then most often in recent years we are talking about small bowls and vases from the era of the famous Chinese emperors. And these works look incredibly modest, and no one can prove historical accuracy with 100 percent certainty. However, this does not prevent newly-minted billionaires from mainland China and island Taiwan from sometimes clashing so tightly at auctions that the initial price of nondescript, at first glance, lots sometimes increases many times over and as a result amounts to tens of millions of dollars.

The price of porcelain works is a topic for a separate discussion. For me, for example, no less important was and remains the artistic value of porcelain, its beauty, elegance, the uniqueness of technique and the attractiveness of the plot - everything that makes such works leave a mark on the soul of not only a collector, but also an ordinary art connoisseur who is able to feel the beauty. In general, according to this principle, our collection was assembled. In which, however, by hook or by crook they managed to "get through" and sometimes not very attractive, but very valuable and even unique works of the most famous porcelain manufactories in the world.