Pickelherring

German clown

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "Pickelherring" has two meanings. Primarily, it refers to a pickled herring. However, it also denotes a buffoon or comic character, stemming from a popular 17th-century German stage character of the same name. This theatrical figure is an early ancestor of the modern clown, known for broad humor and physical comedy. The tradition of such comic characters, including those with distinctive costumes and exaggerated antics, has a long history in European entertainment, evolving from ancient Greek and Roman performances through the commedia dell'arte and into various stage traditions.12

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clown
…them such popular characters as Pickelherring, who remained a German favourite until the 19th century. Pickelherring and his confederates wore clown costumes that have hardly changed to this day: oversized shoes, waistcoats, and hats, with giant ruffs around their necks.
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…them such popular characters as Pickelherring, who remained a German favourite until the 19th century. Pickelherring and his confederates wore clown costumes that have hardly changed to this day: oversized shoes, waistcoats, and hats, with giant ruffs around their necks.
Read More