Meissen, Commedia group, J.J. Kaendler c.1745-50
A delightful, large & rare Meissen figural group of Children from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, modeled as three children depicting the characters of Harlequin, Columbine and Beltrame
modeled by Johann Joachim Kaendler (1706-1775)
circa 1745-50
Measuring 25.5cm (10 inches) in height
Marked to the side of the flat base with blurred underglaze blue crossed swords
Condition: remarkably, in perfect original condition
In 1731, Johann Joachim Kaendler was appointed Court Sculptor at the age of 25 by Augustus II, two years later he succeeded J J Kirchner as Model Master at Meissen and at the height of his career in 1749 was appointed Court Commissioner. This superbly modeled group of the Children's Comedy was produced at the summit of his illustrious career at Meissen circa 1750.
This early model with an unglazed flat pad base depicts a group of three lively, scantily clad children, so energetically and fluidly modeled that they appear to leap out of their clay bonds; writhing, twisting and dancing before one's very eyes. The tallest of the group shows the infamous Harlequin, with a ruff around his collar, dancing while holding his slapstick and mask aloft. The seated female is Columbine, a collared ruff at her throat, her left hand reaching for Beltrame, wearing only his cloak, in a pose reminiscent of Kaendler's famous grouping of The Indiscreet Harlequin circa 1740.
The three undulating figures are caught in motion atop a wave of rocaille and rockwork, sparingly picked out in gilt-work and scattered with applied leaves and flower-heads. As with the early Meissen groups produced in the first half of the 18th century, the flat base is unglazed with no markings. The Meissen crossed swords mark is painted in slightly blurred underglaze blue on the side of the base, by the swirling rocaille and rockwork.
A sensation, early and very rare group of Kaendler's Child Comedians - in perfect original untouched condition.
IN STOCK. Please contact BARASET HOUSE Fine Art Gallery.
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Meissen, The Four Seasons, J J Kaendler, c.1745-50
An Exceedingly Rare & Large Meissen blanc-de-chine group
allegorical of Summer & Autumn from The Four Seasons
modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-1775)
circa 1745-55
Measuring 26 cm (10 inches) in height.
Provenance:
Private Collection, Montreal, Canada
Two swirling and scantily clad putti are paired with a faun to depict 'Summer & Autumn' of 'The Four Seasons' modeled by Johann Joachim Kaendler for Meissen. The naked figure of Summer, seated on a goat's back amidst wheat sheaves, twists to her right, propping her elbow on the rockwork base. In her right hand she carries a sickle. Her hair is drawn into a knot, crowned with two small wheatsheaves held in place by a headband. Below her, in a small nest shielded by ferns sprouting from the base, a partridge protects her eggs.
Autumn kneels on the base feeding a bunch of grapes to the recumbent goat. His head is crowned with a garland of leaves and grapes, and a tendril bearing bunches of grapes issues from the high-scroll and foliate moulded base with applied scattered leaves and flowerheads.
t is highly unusual for a figural model of this period not to have been enamelled - this blanc de chine example and its partner (below) may be unique.
In very fine condition. Summer's sicle missing the tip, firing cracks and original plaster filler to the side rockwork on base. Of impressive height and size.
See associated figural group of Summer & Autumn below.
Red wax collection seal to the flat-bottomed, unglazed base.
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Meissen, The Four Seasons, J J Kaendler, c.1745-50
An Exceedingly Rare & Large Meissen blanc-de-chine group
allegorical of Summer & Autumn from The Four Seasons
modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-1775)
circa 1745-55
Measuring 26 cm (10.2 inches) in height.
Provenance:
Private Collection, Montreal, Canada
Two scantily clad putti are paired to depict 'Autumn & Summer' of 'The Four Seasons' by Johann Joachim Kaendler for Meissen. The figure of Summer, reclining amidst wheat sheaves, raises her hand to the Autumn harvest, and props her elbow on the scrolled base. In her left hand she carries a sickle. Her hair is drawn into a knot.
Above her, Autumn is raised upon the high rockwork base, scattered with applied flower-heads and leaves, indulging in a cascading bunch of grapes falling from his upraised hand. His head is crowned with a garland of leaves and grapes, and a thick twisted vine bearing bunches of grapes issues from the mound.
It is highly unusual for a figural model of this period not to have been enamelled - this blanc de chine example and its partner (above) may be unique.
In very fine condition. Summer is missing the tip of one toe, firing cracks and original plaster filler to the side rockwork on base. Of impressive height and size.
See associated figural group of Summer & Autumn below.
Red wax collection seal to the flat-bottomed, unglazed base.
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Jean-Baptiste Nini, Plaque of Louis XV, dated 1770
A very fine late 18thc French Terracotta medallion,
depicting Louis XV of France,
by Jean-Baptiste Nini (1717-1786)
signed and dated 1770
TITLED: LUDOVICUS XV REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS - MDCCLXX
Signed: J B NINI F 1770 (incised on tranche)
This important cast terracotta plaque (terre de Chaumont) was created by "a technique of his own invention...Nini refined the local clay through a process of elutriation and used it to cast his medallions from finely engraved copper molds" (MET).
An identical example is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) accession number 52.189.10
Literature:
A. Cerboni Baiardi, B. Sibille, Nini, D'Urbino aux rives de la Loire, Paysages et visages européens, cat. exp., Milan, 2001, pp. 192-195, n° 75.
Measuring 15.9 cm (6 1/4 in) in diameter
Meissen, The Four Quarters of The Globe, Friedrich Elias Meyer, c.1750-1755
A Rare & Energetic Meissen figural group of Children emblematic of
Europe & America from The Four Quarters of The Globe
modeled by Friedrich Elias Meyer
circa 1750-55
Measuring 15.5 cm (5.75 in) in height
Provenance: From the Collection of Ernst Zimmerman (former curator of The Meissen Museum, Dresden)
One of a pair of groups depicting The Four Quarters of The Globe, this energetic grouping depicts Europe as a scantily clad child with puce drapery to the waist, raising the orb and sceptre of England.
The child representative of 'America' is one of the earliest representations of an Aboriginal American in porcelain. He is wearing a brightly enamelled feathered headress and colourful loincloth, and is carrying a bow and arrow.
'Europe' and 'America' are raised on a high-scroll and foliate moulded rockwork base with scattered applied leaves and flowerheads. At Europe's feet sits a plumed helmet and cresting wave. America rides a crocodile. The two figures display a lively tension to one another.
The companion figure of Asia & Africa which completes the set of The Four Quarters of The Globe is also offered, please see below.
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Meissen, The Four Quarters of The Globe, Friedrich Elias Meyer, c.1750-1755
A Rare & Energetic Meissen figural group of Children emblematic of
Europe & America from The Four Quarters of The Globe
modeled by Friedrich Elias Meyer
circa 1750-55
Measuring 15.5 cm (5.75 in) in height
Provenance: From the Collection of Ernst Zimmerman (former curator of The Meissen Museum, Dresden)
One of a pair of groups depicting The Four Quarters of The Globe, this dramatic grouping depicts Asia as a scantily clad child with puce drapery to the waist, arms encircling the figure of Africa.
The child representative of 'Africa' is one of the earliest representations of an African in porcelain. He is wearing an elephant headress and colourful loincloth, and is seated atop of lion.
'Asia' and 'Africa' are raised on a high-scroll and foliate moulded rockwork base with scattered applied leaves and flowerheads. Similar models have been exhibited at Dresden Porzellansammlung "Little spirits, cupids" Exhibition (2016), The Museum für Kunst un Gewerbe in Hamburg at the 1982 exhibition "Meissener Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts in Hamburger Privatbesitz" and in Segovia, Fondacion Casa Segovia, at the exhibition "La porcelana de Meissen en la Coleccin Britzke" (2009).
The companion figure of Europe & American which completes the set of The Four Quarters of The Globe is also offered, please see above.
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Meissen, Kakiemon-style platter, c.1735
A Meissen two-handled oval pierced-platter, enamelled in the Kakiemon-style with the fliegender Hund or Flying Fox pattern within a Sulkowski ozier moulded border and brown line rim, the scroll handles with ozier moulding, underglaze blue crossed swords mark, circa 1735
Measuring 25 cm in length
Mark: underglaze blue crossed swords on reverse
Of exceedingly rare form, with six holes pieced to the well, this platter was likely used as a draining tray, seated atop a larger platter with no handles.
A highly desirable and pleasing enameled pattern, based on an original Japanese Kakiemon design depicting a flying squirrel.
Literature:
A slightly smaller two-handled dish of identical form and enameled in The Flying Fox pattern with Sulkowski ozier border sold at Christie's (London) Continental Ceramics sale 22 June 1992, lot 103. The Christie's example did not have draining holes, and had a broken handle and rim chips; the present example is in perfect condition.
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Chinese export, Rouge de Fer dinner knives, c.1770
An Exceptionally Rare set of eight porcelain-handled dinner knives,
the porcelain Chinese Export Qinglong Period (1735-1795) circa 1770,
the French steel blades stamped:
Naudet 55 Blvd Beaumarchais
Measuring 21.3 cm 8.42 inches in height
The moulded porcelain pistol-grip handles dating to circa 1770 were originally produced in China for export to Europe. The fine hard-paste porcelain handles began their voyage on the trade ships of the East India Company in about 1770, and were fitted in France with sterling silver collars and steel blades.
Each handle retains its original brilliant rouge de fer enameling, highlighted by gilt scrolls and florettes. Truly remarkable to find a matching set of eight porcelain dinner knives from this period.
