Important Meissen Porcelain Vase w/ Cover “Emblematic of War”, by J.J. Kaendler

Description

A Large, Important, and very rare Meissen Porcelain Vase with Cover “Emblematic of War”, Modeled by J.J. Kaendler The vase is modeled in large baluster form with a domed cover surmounted by the seated figure of Jupiter (Zeus) astride a spread winged eagle, raising a gilt and painted thunderbolt above his head. The body rests upon a tall flared pedestal molded with spiral panels in pale celadon and pink divided by gilt borders, above a gilt circular foot. One side of the vase is molded in high relief with military trophies including a helmet, banners, plumed standards, drum, cannonball, and polearms. Suspended from the shoulder is a silvered suit of armor with scaled breastplate and feathered skirt, tied by a crimson sash. The opposite side is applied with the standing figure of Mars, god of war, dressed in silvered armor with a plumed helmet, blue and crimson drapery, and sandals with gilt mounts, extending his arm outward beside a draped putto holding military standards and spears. Beneath the body reclines a bound captive figure wearing a pale cloth, supporting the vessel above the base. The front is painted and molded with a continuous battle scene populated by mounted soldiers, infantry, artillery, smoke clouds, and fallen combatants in relief, while the reverse bears a cobalt blue shield inscribed in gilt with the royal motto “DIEU ET MON DROIT.” Gilt scrollwork and scattered floral sprigs ornament the white ground. This vase is a Meissen porcelain model after the celebrated allegorical vessels designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler (1706–1775). The underside bears the underglaze blue crossed swords mark, the long established factory sign of Meissen, introduced during the eighteenth century and placed beneath the base. The present composition represents War, combining figures of Jupiter and Mars with martial trophies and heraldic devices associated with military authority and royal power. Comparable examples are recorded as nineteenth century reproductions of Kaendler’s earlier sculptural designs. The reverse motto “Dieu et mon droit,” translated as “God and my Right,” appears within a gilt framed shield and relates to royal heraldic tradition. Johann Joachim Kaendler served as Meissen’s chief modeler and produced many of the factory’s most ambitious sculptural works, including allegorical vessels, monumental animal models, and figural table ornaments. His designs treated porcelain as a sculptural medium rather than solely a painted surface, requiring complex mold construction and multi part assembly. Meissen, founded in 1710 as the first European hard paste porcelain manufactory, became identified with such large figural compositions and protected its production through the crossed swords trademark. Kaendler’s allegorical vase models remain among the manufactory’s most technically demanding productions due to their extensive applied figures, projecting elements, and integrated sculptural narrative. This large “Emblematic of War” vase represents one of Meissen’s most elaborate sculptural porcelain forms and holds strong importance within the tradition of nineteenth century Meissen revival production.

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