Gil

English translation: Gil / Gil Blas

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	Gil
English translation:	Gil / Gil Blas
Entered by:	Helen Shiner

15:37 Mar 15, 2011

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Meißen porcelain

German term or phrase: Gil

From an auction catalogue listing various lots of Meißen porcelain, in this case a 'Tasse mit Harlekin und Untertasse'

The description runs: Porzellan, Wandung mit passigem Goldrand, Alt-Ozierrelief, bunt gemalten Blütenzweigen sowie Parklandschaft, gestikulierendem Harlekin, Gil und Dame, Untertasse mit tanzendem Watteaupaar

No further mention of this 'Gil'. I have searched high and low for this term, but it isn't an easy one to trace. The Grimm Wörterbuch doesn't help, for instance. Another thought was this might be another character/mask from the Commedia dell'arte, but I haven't been able to find the ENG equivalent, if it is, nor any confirmation that there is/was a character with that name.

Any bright ideas gratefully received.

Helen Shiner KudoZ activity Questions: 66 (none open) (5 closed without grading) Answers: 1689 United Kingdom
Local time: 10:14

Gil Blas

Explanation:
Gil Blas character from a French Picaresque novel by Lesage

Also comic pantomine Harlequin Gil Blas

Selected response from:

Nicola Wood
Austria
Local time: 11:14

Grading comment

A million thanks for your inspiration!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

Gil Blas

Nicola Wood

Discussion entries: 12

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

Thanks, Diana

10:53 Mar 16, 2011

I'd better make sure that's always the case then now, hadn't I?!

British Diana

Germany

endorsement

09:37 Mar 16, 2011

of Phil's first remark at 16.52 yesterday.
And you "know" it'll be well worth tackling...

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

@ Nicola

17:55 Mar 15, 2011

That remembered reference is years old and I didn't make the link to Gil Blas anyway. So a massive help from you.

Nicola Wood

Austria

16:17 Mar 15, 2011

Not a great deal of help then! But there are plenty of references to Gil Blas and various actors who have plyed the character. For some strange reason, probably the unusual name, it just stuck in my head. Occasionally my obscure choices in my long past universtiy studies come in handy!

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

Periodical

16:11 Mar 15, 2011

This is what I have come across in my art historical researches in the past: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Blas_(periodical)

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

@ Nicola

16:08 Mar 15, 2011

It rings a bell with me, too, now you mention it, but I wouldn't have got there without your 'luck'. I'm sure he crops up somewhere in painting/graphic arts, too, just on edge of my memory. Thanks for saving me further hours of research.

Nicola Wood

Austria

@ Helen

16:02 Mar 15, 2011

Thanks, but I was just lucky it happened to ring a bell.

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

@ Phil

15:57 Mar 15, 2011

Thanks, I do try!! Auction house has not published pic yet and since lots can be withdrawn, I generally have to do this sight unseen!

Helen Shiner

United Kingdom

ASKER

@ Nicola

15:55 Mar 15, 2011

Spot on I think. This presumably is the character Gil Blas. Completely appropriate to the period. Please post and Kudoz to you.

philgoddard

United States

15:52 Mar 15, 2011

And presumably you've asked the customer if they have a picture?

philgoddard

United States

15:52 Mar 15, 2011

This may be way off track, but could it be a typo for Girl? Doesn't Girl in German mean serving maid, which is what Columbine is?
Either way, if Helen Shiner asks a question, you *know* it's going to be difficult and she's left no stone unturned before posting it :-)

Nicola Wood

Austria

15:47 Mar 15, 2011

I don't know whether this is relevant or not, but there is a comic pantomine called Harlequin Gil Blas or the Boy of Santillane. http://www.elta-project.org/browse.html?recordId=3122

Answers

22 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

Gil Blas

Explanation:
Gil Blas character from a French Picaresque novel by Lesage

Also comic pantomine Harlequin Gil Blas

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Blas
Reference: http://www.elta-project.org/browse.html?recordId=3122

Nicola Wood
Austria
Local time: 11:14
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

A million thanks for your inspiration!

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