BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF ALEXANDER II (1855-1881)

Details

A RARE PORCELAIN GROUP ‘ALLEGORY OF WINTER’
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF ALEXANDER II (1855-1881)
After the figure by August Spiess, modelled as four putti dressed in robes, sitting by the fire, one raising a hammer and holding a heart in tongs, the other holding a quiver with arrows, the base molded with gilt rocailles, apparently unmarked, incised under base with indistinct initials and numeral '22'
8¼ in. (21 cm.) wide

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

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Lot Essay

As the factory’s chief modeller for almost half a century, August Spiess created a large number of figures during the Historical period of the second half of the 19th century. The works created by Spiess often depict playful children, cupids, or mythological figures in various costumes and settings.

For a comparable undecorated model from the State Hermitage Museum, see E. Khmelnitskaya, August Spiess and Imperial Porcelain Factory, Moscow, 2012, p. 176, no. 165.

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