The Starck Pavilion of the Groninger Museum is designed as one large porcelain museum. Colorful figures from the commedia dell’arte populate the display cases together with other pottery.
When we think of porcelain, we immediately think of shepherds and shepherdesses, dogs, deer and tea sets, which we usually dismiss as pure kitsch. And rightly so, because it is usually coarse and not very elegant factory goods.
That is a bit different when it comes to truly refined, handmade porcelain, such as from the Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg from Munich.
The company has been around for 275 years, which is why the Groninger Museum has filled its Starck Pavilion for some time now with a large exhibition of handmade porcelain. Porcelain of a higher quality, more refined and more impressive kind than we ever encounter elsewhere. Kitsch is pure art here.
Perfect in facial expression and posture
You immediately see this in all those beautiful figures from the Italian commedia dell’arte, that crazy improvisation theater from the 18th century with its regular characters such as Arlecchino, Dottore, Pantalone, Scaramouche, Colombina and Pulcinella.
In their porcelain capacity they come to life as they bend towards each other, challenge each other and revolve around each other. Designed in all their refined expressiveness and perfect facial expression and posture. The Swiss sculptor Franz Anton Bustelli (1723-1763) was the designer of these statues. All sixteen form a series that became a great success soon after the opening of the Porzellan Manufaktur in 1747.
Design expert John Veldkamp, known for the exhibition since 2019 Pronkjewails: design from the past and present was asked by the Groninger Museum to create an exhibition with Nymphenburg’s creations in dialogue with the collection of the Groninger Museum.
Art, design and craft in one
From 1747, when the company was founded, it produced porcelain that fit seamlessly into the refined culture of the rococo, which we all too easily regard as a kitsch era, while at that time a style revolution was taking place in the field of architecture, home furnishings, furniture design, clothing fashion, etc. painting, sculpture and music that were unprecedented. You can safely call it the avant-garde of that time, with a worldwide influence on the taste of the upper ten . Art, design and craft in one.
In addition to the commedia dell’arte figures, Nymphenburg also produces mythological scenes of white porcelain, contemporary design and modern tableware. To this end, collaboration with contemporary artists is always sought to create contemporary porcelain. Such as photographer Nick Knight, Christian Lacroix and well-known Dutch designers Hella Jongerius and Viktor & Rolf.
Nymphenburg is one of the last porcelain manufacturers in the world where every part is made entirely by hand. And just like in the 18th century, Nymphenburg porcelain is ordered by the happy few of our time, including Kate Moss, Damien Hirst and Elton John.
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Groningen Museum
Nymphenburg x Groninger Museum, porcelain, art and design , Starck Pavilion, Groninger Museum, Groningen. Open: Tue to Sun 10am – 5pm.