A set of four Meissen ewers emblematic of the Elements

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

Details

A set of four Meissen ewers emblematic of the Elements
After the models by Johann Joachim Kaendler, Late 19th Century
Each with 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 underglaze blue crossed swords mark, Earth stamped 66 and with Pressnummer 309, Air stamped 40 and 127, Water with Pressnummer 320 and Earth stamped 66 and 309, restorations
Earth: 25¾ in. (65.5 cm.) high
Air: 25 in. (63.5 cm.) high
Fire: 26¼ in. (66.5 cm.) high
Water: 25 in. (63.5 cm.) 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).

Other sets were sold in these Rooms 29 February 1996, lot 116 and 19 October 1995, lot 97.

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