CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, EARTH'S WITH AN INCISION BELOW AND PROBABLY OUTSIDE-DECORATED, INCISED MODEL NOS. 309, 310 AND 320, VARIOUS IMPRESSED NUMERALS, AFTER THE MODELS BY J.J. KÄNDLER

Details

A SET OF THREE MEISSEN PORCELAIN EWERS EMBLEMATIC OF THE ELEMENTS
CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, EARTH'S WITH AN INCISION BELOW AND PROBABLY OUTSIDE-DECORATED, INCISED MODEL NOS. 309, 310 AND 320, VARIOUS IMPRESSED NUMERALS, AFTER THE MODELS BY J.J. KÄNDLER
Each of flattened baluster form with flared spout and a ribbon-tied scroll handle surmounted by a putto, modeled with attributes of Earth, Fire or Water; Earth's handle as wheat, the shoulder applied with Diana overlooking a hunt scene, the leaf-molded foot applied with a putto tilling earth; Water's handle formed as aquatic leaves, the shoulder applied with Neptune overlooking a fleet of warships, flanked by a mermaid and hippocampi, the foot molded with bulrushes and applied with dolphins; Fire with a dragon handle, the shoulder applied with Vulcan holding a bellows overlooking forest animals fleeing a fire lit by Perseus, the reverse with an erupting volcano, the foot applied with a putto holding torches
26½ in. (67.3 cm.) high, Fire (3)

Provenance

Dargate Auction Galleries, Pittsburgh, 25-27 January 2008, lots 2338 and 2339 (Earth and Water).
Mary Hulton Phillips, Butler, Pennsylvania.
By bequest from the above to the current owner, January 19, 2009.

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Lot Essay

The present ewers are after the set modeled by Johann Joachim Kändler specifically as a diplomatic gift to Louis XV. In 1742 two white glazed ewers and three vases were sent to the French Court as a massive garniture. The ewers were emblematic of Water and Air, two of the vases as Earth and Fire. The third vase, the centerpiece, incorporated the king's profile and initials. See M. Cassidy-Geiger, ed., Fragile Diplomacy, Meissen Porcelain for the European Courts, ca. 1710-63, New Haven, 2007, pp. 156-157, fig. 7-23 and 7-24a-d.

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