Cello Figurine Appraisal

Porcelain Musician Figurine of a Boy with Cello

This item is a decorative porcelain figurine depicting a young boy in 18th-century Rococo-style attire, standing while holding a stringed instrument, likely a cello or viola da gamba. The piece is constructed from white glazed porcelain, standing approximately 6 to 8 inches tall. The color palette is minimal, utilizing a traditional white base accented with underglaze cobalt blue floral patterns on the trousers and dark blue outlines on the instrument. Significantly, the figurine features hand-applied gold gilt accents on the shoes, lapels, and instrument, which provide a sense of mid-20th-century decorative charm. The boy is characterized by a youthfully sculpted face with hand-painted blue eyes and rosy cheeks, topped with a molded white wig. Structurally, the figurine is attached to an integral circular mound base. Regarding condition, the glaze appears intact with no immediate visible cracks, though slight thinning of the gold gilding on high-friction areas like the shoes suggests minor age-related wear. This style is consistent with mid-century mass-market porcelain 'curio' items, often produced in Japan or Occupied Japan for the Western market, mimicking European Meissen or Dresden styles. While no specific maker's mark is visible from the front view, the overall craftsmanship indicates it was a standardized giftware item rather than an artisan studio piece.