The Shepherdess

Artisan: Randall Zadar
Date: 2001
Inscriptions: stamped with artist’s name, date and catalogue number ‘Zadar 2001 / 66’ (on the back of the figurine) and further signed by the artist ‘Zadar’ (on the base)
Dimensions: 31 x 18 x 13 mm. / 1 ¼ x ¾ x ½ inches (height x width x depth)
Inventory number: 2021.088
Intended Room: Breakfast Room
Category: Figurines

Provenance: The Adell Venus Collection of Miniatures; sold at auction by Leslie Hindman, Chicago, 17 July 2013 (sale 279: ‘The Adell Venus Collection of Miniatures’), part of lot 381. Purchased there by Miniature Cottage, from whom bought by us in October 2021.

In this typically Rococo figurine by Randall Zadar, a pair of young lovers sit beneath a tree. The young man clasps the hand of his beloved, who we know from the title to be an implausibly well-dressed shepherdess. In a small cartouche on the back of the piece, it is signed and dated ‘Zadar 2001’ (though I initially read it as ‘2002’) and numbered ’66’. That refers to Zadar’s own catalogue of his work. Here is a direct transcription from the catalogue:

‘#66 – 2001. Permanently retired. Secondary market only. Height 3/4″. Based on a porcelain after François Boucher. 59 in natural bronze, first signed, issue price $49. Painted in color, 22 figurines, issue price $95. Five demo pieces.’