Lot 445
LARGE MEISSEN ALLEGORICAL FIGURE OF JUPITER IN HIS CHARIOT
SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY
Auction: Day Two | Thurs 13th Nov at 10am | Lots 339 to 600
Description
modelled by J.J. Kaendler; the crowned figure of Jupiter modelled leaning on his chariot and holding a thunder bolt in his right hand, a putto stands before him holding the astrological symbol for Jupiter, the chariot led by two eagles within a jewelled harness, the figures within a bed of clouds and bolts of lightning, on a leaf moulded plinth base with gilt highlights, the whole made in two sections joined with the original bolts, both sections with underglaze blue crossed swords mark, one section incised 29 and impressed 163
Provenance
38.5cm high, 54cm wide
Footnote
Jupiter in his Chariot was originally designed as part of a series of figure groups modelled by Kaendler in the 18th century and based on the five planets known at the time, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. It was part of an elaborate gift for Catherine the Great of Russia, made to decorate her Sliding Hill Pavilion, near St Petersburg. In the 19th century, particularly in England, there was a demand for the earlier Meissen rococo style figure groups and decorative pieces, and this brought older models, such Jupiter in his Chariot, back into production. The Meissen manufactory soon referred to figures such as this as ‘English Articles’ and they played an important role in the balance sheets of the company.