DATED 1892, BLUE SCEPTRE AND IRON-RED ORB MARKS, IMPRESSED MODEL NOS. 6619 AND 3619, D AND CYPHER

Details

A BERLIN (K.P.M.) PORCELAIN FIGURAL MANTLE CLOCK
DATED 1892, BLUE SCEPTRE AND IRON-RED ORB MARKS, IMPRESSED MODEL NOS. 6619 AND 3619, D AND CYPHER
In the Neo-Rococo style, modeled as Father Time holding a winged hourglass aloft, seated on a spoked wheel among the clouds, atop an elaborate clock case, the dial with gilt scrolling foliage enameled with faux 'jewels', a putto holding a infinity snake bellow, flanked by two sphinxes attended by putti, the reverse with rocaille gilt scrollwork dated 1892 and painted with flowers
28 in. (71 cm.) high, 32 ½ in. (82.5 cm.) wide

Provenance

Almost certainly the example given to Kaiser Wilhelm II as a New Year's present, 1892.

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Lot Essay

This elaborately detailed clock, conspicuously dated 1892 in gilt on the reverse, is almost certainly the example made by Berlin manufactory as a New Year’s present for Kaiser Wilhelm II that year. Its stepped plinth base was specifically formed to be displayed on the Kaiser's mantelpiece. The decoration is attributed to an 1891 design by Paul Schley, and Schley likely drew inspiration for the sphinxes from George Franz Eberhecht’s sculptures in Sancoucci park, and inspiration for the figure of Father Time from sculptural ceiling moldings in the Berlin Castle. For a further discussion of this model and a later example of this model, see F. Dietz, The Golden Age of the KPM: Weichmalerei (Soft-Paste-Paint) on Berlin Porcelain, Berlin, 2015, p. 488.

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