A 19th C. Meissen Porcelain Covered Potpourri, After the Model by J.F. Eberlein

Description

A 19th-century Meissen Porcelain Covered Potpourri, after the model by Johann Friedrich Eberlein. The potpourri features a large, lobed body with a pierced domed lid, surmounted by applied floral decorations. The body is molded with spiraling fluting in soft pink and white hues, accentuated by gilded details and green vine-like embellishments. Applied floral garlands with delicate hand-painted blooms and fruiting vines cascade across the surface. The scrolled handles extend outward in a naturalistic form, further enriched with floral applications. The base presents an elaborate sculptural scene of a seated mother in a flowing blue and lavender gown, surrounded by four playful children. Each figure is finely modeled, capturing dynamic movement and expressive facial details. The children are depicted engaging with the mother, one resting against her lap while another reaches toward her. Their hair, garments, and gestures are intricately rendered, demonstrating the exceptional craftsmanship characteristic of Meissen porcelain. The entire composition rests on a shaped, gilt-accented base with naturalistic ground elements. Johann Friedrich Eberlein (1695–1749) was a German sculptor who played a crucial role in Meissen's early porcelain production. Initially trained as a court sculptor in Dresden, he joined the Meissen manufactory in 1735, working alongside Johann Joachim Kändler. Eberlein contributed significantly to Meissen’s repertoire of sculptural porcelain, specializing in figural groups, allegorical compositions, and large decorative works such as this potpourri. His designs, often inspired by Rococo aesthetics, emphasized fluidity, expressive movement, and intricate detail, influencing Meissen’s artistic direction well into the 19th century. The base with Underglaze blue crossed swords mark and incised numbers. The Meissen porcelain manufactory, established in the early 1700s, was the first in Europe to produce true hard-paste porcelain, rivaling Chinese and Japanese imports. Under the patronage of Augustus the Strong, Meissen set the standard for European porcelain, with its master artisans developing innovative forms and lavish decoration. The factory’s collaborations with sculptors such as Eberlein contributed to its legacy of intricate figural compositions, exemplified in this potpourri’s sculptural and decorative elements. Germany, Circa: 1870

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