The Hairdresser – German Porcelain Figural Inkstand

1. The Scene and Design

• The Subject: The sculpture depicts a domestic scene, perhaps one could title as “The Hairdresser”. A standing woman (perhaps a maid or sister) is carefully styling the hair of a seated lady, adjusting a headpiece or comb.
• The Hidden Function: This is a “transformation” piece. The upper part of the figures form a lid that lifts off completely to reveal the functional inkstand hidden underneath.
• The Interior: Inside are three compartments:

1. Right: A well with a perforated cover, which is the Pounce Pot (used to shake sand/pounce over wet ink to dry it).
2. Center & Left: Two wells for ink

• Decoration: The piece is hand-painted in a soft pastel palette typical of the era.

• • The seated lady wears a cream skirt with a detailed paisley pattern in green, gold, and black.
  • The standing figure wears a pink skirt with floral sprigs and a blue-and-white striped bodice.
  • To the side stands a Rococo-style mirror frame, decorated with gold accents.

2. The Maker: Conta & Boehme

Based on the specific modeling, the pastel color palette, and the subject matter, this piece is attributed to the German porcelain factory Conta & Boehme (Albert Stahl & Co.).

• Location: Pößneck, Thuringia, Germany.
• Signature Style: They were renowned for these small porcelain groups with lift off lids.
• Identification Clue: A key identifier for Conta & Boehme is the specific way they modeled faces (small features, rosebud lips) and the use of the “paisley” or “comma” pattern on the clothing, which is visible on the seated woman’s skirt. 3. Age

• Date: Circa 1860–1880
  • This was the height of production for Conta & Boehme’s figural inkstands and boxes. The hairstyles and dress silhouettes reflect the fashion of the mid-to-late 19th century.