From the Monkey Orchestra. A standing monkey on a round plinth, wearing a red frock coat as a conductor, holding a score and a baton. Polychrome painting with gold. Possibly by Otto Pilz, around 1912. Possibly marked; model number C 271. Sword mark. Height 19.5 cm. From a series of monkey figures, in which Otto Pilz (1876-1934) - like Johann Joachim Kaendler in the 18th century - satirized human behavior and weaknesses. Pilz is mainly known for his naturalistic, dynamically moving animal figures, which he supplied as a freelance sculptor for the Meissen Manufactory from 1905 onwards. They belong to the masterpieces of Jugendstil porcelain sculpture. The distinctly characteristic and humorous figures of the monkey orchestra, which stylistically clearly deviate from naturalism, demonstrate the versatility of this artist. See Jedding, Meissener Porzellan des 19. und 20. Jhs., p. 116 ff.; Sonntag, Erlebte Kunst, p. 98. A porcelain figure of a guenon as conductor from the monkey orchestra, modeled by O. Pilz. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Around 1912-1923.
