Naples Passegio Reale Figurine

This is a very rare figurine made by Naples ( Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea ) around 1795. It is from the Real Passeggio series and is of a gentleman wearing a fancy outfit including long pink coat with a dot design to it, top hat and yellow pants. Standing on a simple base. Typical hair style for this maker and period. The figure was most likely modelled by Filippo Tagliolini (head modeller) and painted by Giovan Battista Polidoro. He is made of softpaste porcelain. Really well modeled and hand painted and one can see the Capodimonte influence in the painting and colors. The figurine is in superb condition with some chips to the edge of the hat which were colored in to hide them better. He displays perfectly! The piece is unmarked which seems to be the norm from the few pieces I have come across. The figurine is about 6.625 inches tall, 2.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches deep. Please email me for more information or other pictures.

For your info:

In the 1780s Ferdinand IV built the Villa Communale and a large park from land reclaimed form the sea on the coast between Naples and the port of Mergellina. The Passegio Reale – or Royal Promenade in the park- was originally reserved just for the nobility but was opened to the and the wealthy bourgeoise of Naples for special holidays.

Versions of these figures were originally modelled for the centrepiece of the desert service commissioned by King Ferdinand IV in 1792 from his porcelain factory, The Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea, to accompany the Servizio delle Vedute Napolitane also known as The Servizio del’Oca. This large table-centrepiece depicted figures and groups representing the Neapolitan bourgeoisie promenading in the Real Passeggio in a gently satirical way.