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The Young Blacksmith

Original Language TitleDer kleine Schmid
Modeler Johann Peter Melchior (German, 1742 - 1825)
Manufacturer Höchst Ceramics Manufactory (German, founded 1746)
Date1770-1780
MediumHard-paste porcelain; enamelled
DimensionsOverall: 4 1/4 inches (10.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. E. B. Berkowitz
Object number70-18/6
Markingson bottom: blue wheel mark
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • 121
DescriptionYoung boy in pink knee pants, white blouse with billowy sleeves, red with white stripes scarf at neck, green hat and work apron. Pounding out rod (black with red tip) held in left hand with hammer in right hand held in mid-air on anvil (black base with white top). Crack on right shoulder running to left around neck. On shaped gray base. Modeled by Johann Peter Melchior (act. 1767-1779).Exhibition History

Luxury and Passion: Inventing French Porcelain, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, August 13 2022–August 12 2024, no cat.

Published References

K.H. Esser and Horst Reber, Höchster Fayencen und Porzellane, exh. cat. (Mainz, Germany: Altertumsmuseum und Gemäldegalerie der Stadt Mainz, 1964): p. 131 (ill.)

Patricia Stahl. Höchster Porzellan, 1746-1796, exh. cat. (Frankfurt am Main: Historisches Museum der Stadt Frankfurt am Main/Edition Braus, 1994): no.6.10.13 (with companion piece), p. 270 (ill.)

Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


The Young Cooper
Johann Peter Melchior
1770-1780
70-18/4
A Boy Reading
Johann Peter Melchior
1775-1780
70-18/3
A Boy with a Bird's Nest
Johann Peter Melchior
1760-1765
70-18/10
overall
Höchst Ceramics Manufactory
before 1770
70-18/8
The Love Letter
Johann Peter Melchior
1775-1780
F84-34
The Print Seller
Johann Peter Melchior
1775-1780
F72-19
A Boy with a Ball
Johann Peter Melchior
1770-1780
70-18/2
Boy Masquerading as a Sultan
Johann Peter Melchior
1770-1775
F73-18/1
Figure of a Woman in an Arbor
Laurentius Russinger
1760-1765
F79-10
A Girl with a Flower Basket
Johann Peter Melchior
1770-1780
71-42/1
A Boy and Girl with Garland
Johann Peter Melchior
1768
F82-18
The Apple Thief
Johann Peter Melchior
1775-1780
F82-19