A set of four Meissen porcelain ewers emblematic of the Elements

AFTER THE MODELS BY JOHANN JOACHIM KAENDLER, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Details

A set of four Meissen porcelain ewers emblematic of the Elements
After the models by Johann Joachim Kaendler, late 19th Century
Each with a shaped lip and bulbous body with raised decoration and applied figures, on an oval spreading foot: Earth, with lip and foot moulded to the underside with oak-leaves and with a tied corn-sheaf handle surmounted by a basket-bearing putto, the body painted with a mountainous landscape and raised with hounds hunting wild animals, a figure of a huntress seated on the shoulder and a panpipe-playing faun to the side; Air, with lip and foot moulded with multi-coloured feathers, with a billowing drapery handle surmounted by pipe-blowing putti and with a youthful zephyr at its base, the body raised with clouds, flying birds and, the figure of Juno seated on the shoulder, accompanied by her peacock; Fire, with foliate-moulded lip and foot, with dragon handle surmounted by a fire-carrying putto, the body raised with an erupting volcano and wild animals fleeing from a forest fire, a figure of Vulcan carrying bellows seated on the shoulder and a fire-bearing maiden to the side; Water, with shell and reed-moulded lip and foot, the handle in the form of tied rushes, the body raised with a turquoise ocean with galleons and hippocampi, a figure of Neptune seated on the shoulder, a nereid to the side, each with blue cross swords mark to the underside, restorations, minor losses
Earth: 26½in. (67.3cm.) high
Air: 25in. (63.5cm.) high
Fire: 24½in. (61.5cm.) high
Water: 25½in. (61.5cm.) high (4)

Lot Essay

The present set of vases representing The Elements are after those modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler in 1741 (see Meissen, Festive Publication, 1910, p. 34-35.).
Another set were sold in these rooms 19th October 1995, lot 97.

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