THREE MEISSEN EWERS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ELEMENTS

CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED 309., 327, 320 RESPECTIVELY, THE LATER TWO IMPRESSED 46

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THREE MEISSEN EWERS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ELEMENTS
Circa 1880, blue crossed swords marks, incised 309., 327, 320 respectively, the later two impressed 46
Each of flattened baluster form with flared spout and spreading foot, emblematic of Earth, Air and Water from a set of the Elements, Earth with a scroll handle modelled as corn entwined with ribbon, surmounted by a putto with a basket of fruit, the neck moulded with a band of acanthus above a plain section painted with scattered sprigs, the lower part moulded in relief with a hunt between figures of Diana and a satyr, the reverse with a mountainous lakeside, the foot applied with a putto digging with a spade, Air with a handle formed as a billowing drape, 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 above scattered insects, the lower part moulded in relief with birds among clouds between figures of Juno with a peacock and a winged figure, the foot moulded with feathers and applied with a putto holding a bird, Water with a scroll handle formed from aquatic leaves tied with a ribbon and surmounted by a winged putto, the rim shell-moulded above a plain section painted with insects, the lower part moulded with a fleet of war ships among waves between figures of a mermaid and hippocampi below a figure of Neptune in a shell chariot, the foot moulded with bulrushes and applied with stylized dolphins
25 in. (63.5 cm.) high (3)

Lot Essay

The present ewers, representing three of the four Elements, is after the set modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler in 1741. For a full set of Meissen ewers emblematic of the Elements see The Porperty of Lord St. Oswald, Christie's South Kensington, 22 May 2003, lot 221.

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