Allegorical Figures of the Four Continents
late 18th century
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the Estate of James Hazen Hyde
Accession Number
1960-1-54-a/d
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Created by the esteemed Le Nove Porcelain Manufactory in Italy, this set of allegorical figures represents the four continents—Europe, Asia, Africa, and America—as they were understood in the late 18th century. Established around 1727, the manufactory was renowned for its refined porcelain production during a period when European workshops competed to master the delicate art of ceramic sculpture. These figures likely served as decorative centerpieces or cabinet ornaments, reflecting the Enlightenment-era fascination with geography, exploration, and the classification of the wider world. Such allegorical groupings were popular across Europe, symbolizing global connections through trade, colonization, and cultural exchange. Rendered in ceramics, the works highlight the technical skill required to model expressive human forms and symbolic attributes in porcelain, a material prized for its translucency and durability. Donated to the Smithsonian American Art Museum by the Estate of James Hazen Hyde, these pieces offer visitors a glimpse into how 18th-century Europeans visualized their place in an expanding world.