A 19th Century Meissen Porcelain ‘Elements’ Ewer Emblematic of Air

Description

A 19th Century Meissen Porcelain ‘Elements’ Ewer Emblematic of Air This porcelain ewer is modeled in flattened baluster form with a flared spout, spreading foot, and elaborate figural decoration emblematic of Air from the Elements series. The handle is formed as a sweeping cobalt blue billowing drapery rising toward the rim, terminating beneath two winged putti positioned among clouds, one playing a bagpipe while the other supports the instrument. The neck is molded with vertical bands of brightly colored feathers in pink, green, blue, yellow, and lavender beneath a gilt rim, above a white ground painted with scattered butterflies and insects. A winged putto mask emerges beneath the neck molding. The lower body is enveloped in molded clouds and painted with birds in flight, including cranes, waterfowl, and smaller birds suspended against a pale sky ground. One side is modeled with a seated female figure identified as Juno, crowned and draped in a pink gown with gilt ornament, accompanied by a peacock resting below her. Opposite appears a winged figure extending from the clouds beside the draped handle. The spreading foot is molded with overlapping feathers in polychrome enamel and applied with a winged putto holding a bird. Gilt borders define the rim, collar, and foot. This ewer is a Meissen porcelain production from Germany, circa 1880, bearing the blue crossed swords mark to the underside together with incised numbers. The crossed swords mark, placed beneath the base, identifies manufacture at the Meissen factory and appears clearly painted in underglaze blue. The present model represents Air from the Elements series first modeled by Johann Joachim Kändler in 1741. Johann Joachim Kändler served as Meissen’s principal modeler and was responsible for many of the factory’s sculptural compositions and allegorical table ornaments. The Elements series formed part of Meissen’s large-scale figural and ceremonial porcelain production, combining molded allegorical figures with complex architectural and natural motifs. Models of this type required extensive hand modeling, multi-part assembly, and detailed enamel decoration following firing. The combination of allegorical subject matter, large sculptural scale, and technical complexity places this Meissen Elements ewer among the factory’s most important figural porcelain productions, supporting its strong desirability and high market value. Germany, Circa 1880

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