FOUR MEISSEN EWERS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ELEMENTS

CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS; AIR WITH DOUBLE INCISION; INCISED 309, NO. 327, 320 AND NO. 310; IMPRESSED 81, 68, 66 AND 76, RESPECTIVELY

Details

FOUR MEISSEN EWERS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ELEMENTS
CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS; AIR WITH DOUBLE INCISION; INCISED 309, No. 327, 320 AND No. 310; IMPRESSED 81, 68, 66 AND 76, RESPECTIVELY
Each of flattened baluster form, with flared spout, scroll handle, high-relief mid-section and spreading foot:

Earth with a ribbon-tied wheat-grain handle surmounted by a putto with a basket of fruit, the neck moulded with a band of acanthus above painted sprigs, the body moulded with a hunt flanked by applied figures of Diana and Pan, the reverse with a mountainous lakeside, the foot applied with a putto digging with a spade

Air with a billowing drape handle with two winged putti playing a bagpipe to the top terminal, the neck moulded with bands of brightly coloured leaves above a winged putto head and painted scattered insects, the body moulded with birds among clouds flanked by applied figures of Juno with a peacock and Zephyr, the foot moulded with feathers and applied with a putto holding a bird

Water with a ribbon-tied reed handle surmounted by a winged putto, the spout shell-moulded above painted insects, the body moulded with a fleet of war ships among waves between an applied figure of a Nereid and Neptune at the shoulder in a shell chariot drawn by hippocampi, the foot moulded with bulrushes and applied with stylized dolphins

Fire with a dragon handle surmounted by a putto, the body moulded with forest animals fleeing a fire flanked by Vulcan with bellows seated on an anvil and Perseus, the foot moulded with flame and applied with a putto holding torches
25¾ in. (66.5 cm.) high (4)

Lot Essay

The present ewers of the four Elements are after the set modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler in 1741. See The Property of Lord St. Oswald, Christie's South Kensington, 22 May 2003, lot 221. Also see Dr. K. Berling (Ed.), Meissen China, An Illustrated History fig. 56 and 57, p. 33, 34 and 37 for illustration of Earth, Water and Air

More from 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture, Works of Art and Ceramics

View All