Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.
You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.
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.
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!
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.
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 :-)
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4
