A Rare 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Carp/Fish Form Covered Tureen

Description

An Extremely Rare and Impressive 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Carp/Fish Form Covered Tureen. This covered tureen was produced by the Meissen porcelain manufactory in Germany during the 1800s. Modeled entirely in the form of a carp, the piece reflects Meissen’s known production of sculptural tableware that merges functional form with zoological realism. Fish-form tureens of this size and completeness are rarely encountered, and this example remains a fully realized version of the type. The form follows the full contours of the fish with no flattening or simplification, indicating it was intended for presentation as much as service. The tureen is constructed in two sections—an upper half forming the fish’s head and upper torso, and a lower half forming the belly and tail—crafted to close seamlessly along the midline. The body is rendered in hard-paste porcelain with molded scales, gills, and anatomical detailing throughout. It is entirely hand-painted in naturalistic enamels, with subtle gradients from white to grey and brown across the back, pinkish-orange enamel for the fins, and yellow detailing around the bulging eyes. The painting is executed with great precision, particularly in the gradation of the scales and the lifelike rendering of the head, which mimics the features of a freshwater carp. The interior is fully glazed in pale blue-white, intended for use as a serving vessel. The underside of the tureen bears the underglaze blue crossed swords mark of the Meissen manufactory. The piece is completely handmade and hand enameled, consistent with the factory’s practices in the 19th century for sculptural wares of this complexity. Comparable Meissen zoomorphic tureens from the same period are exceedingly scarce. A related example, in the form of a dolphin, was sold at Sotheby’s London in 2013 for £11,250 (approximately $17,600), underscoring the rarity and desirability of such naturalistic Meissen forms in the current market. Germany, Circa: 1860

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