A MEISSEN (MARCOLINI) FIGURE OF A SULTANA RIDING AN ELEPHANT

CIRCA 1800, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS, STAR AND II MARK

Details

A MEISSEN (MARCOLINI) FIGURE OF A SULTANA RIDING AN ELEPHANT
CIRCA 1800, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS, STAR AND II MARK
After the model by P.J. Reinicke and J.J. Kändler, the Sultana sitting on the animal’s back and holding an orb and sceptre, wearing a jewelled turban, some restoration to sultana and bolster, restored crack to elephant's back right leg, further minor chipping and restoration
10 ½ in. (26.7 cm.) high

Brought to you by

Carys Bingham

cbingham@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2350

Lot Essay

The European fashion for all things exotic and Oriental in the 17th Century ensured the importation of models of elephants from China and Japan executed in a variety of media including porcelain. The early version of this model may have been influenced by a similar sketch of an elephant in J.G. Höroldt's Schulz Codex, (see sheet 18), and it is clear from the humanoid eyes and delineated 'fur' that the painter had not seen a real elephant.

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