Africa, from Allegories of the Four Continents
In the eighteenth century, small-scale figurines representing the allegories of the four continents were a popular fixture in genteel spaces. While the dissemination of such iconography in print form encouraged scholarly reflection, its migration into the realm of the decorative arts prompted whimsy and pleasure. The polished surfaces and exquisite detail of this ambitious group by the Fulda Manufactory afforded European viewers the intimate, tactile experience of beholding representations of other continents, whose precious goods and natural resources they coveted. Africa’s lavish attributes, including jewelry, shells, and a cornucopia brimming with fruits, suggest Europe’s growing economic interest in the continent.
Artwork Details
- Title: Africa, from Allegories of the Four Continents
- Manufactory: Fulda Pottery and Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1764–1789)
- Designer: After a design by Johann Andreas Herrlein (1720–1796)
- Date: 1781–88
- Culture: German, Fulda
- Medium: Hard-paste porcelain
- Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 9 13/16 x 4 7/8 x 4 9/16 in. (24.9 x 12.4 x 11.6 cm)
- Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain
- Credit Line: Gift of Estate of James Hazen Hyde, 1959
- Object Number: 59.208.6
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.