Pair of Meissen figures of Wagtails modelled by Johann Gottlieb Kirchner and J.G. Ehder, Circa 1735-40
Pair of Meissen figures of Wagtails modelled by Johann Gottlieb Kirchner and J.G. Ehder. Both sitting on high tree trunks with applied green leaves and branches. Their plumage finely painted in naturalistic tones in black/brown and green/blue and dashes of yellow.
Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland had various animals and birds designed around 1730 by the sculptor Johann Gottlieb Kirchner (first modeller at the Meissen manufactory). Active at Meissen from 1727 - 28 and 1731 - 33 and together with Johann Joachim Kaendler they created life-size and near life-size porcelain birds and animals, many destined for the Japanese Palace of Augustus The Strong (planned between 1731-35). To create them they found inspiration in nature and copied from life the birds that were kept in the Royal Aviary at Schloss Moritzburg.
In Kirchner's work reports for February 1733, he records "in the month of February 1733 completed the following models..... a life-sized Wagtail sitting on a tree". Four Wagtails were delivered to the Japanese Palace on 29th November 1733 followed by four more in 1734 and a final pair in 1735. The present Wagtails are slightly smaller (9 ins, 23 cms) than the Pied Wagtail modelled in 1733 by Kirchner (73/4 ins 27.5 cms) for the Japanese palace. The work records for 1740 show JG Ehder working on a model - possibly these smaller birds.
Kirchner collaborated with J.J. Kaendler who as his successor from 1735 became an outstanding modeller not only for Meissen birds and animals but in the whole field of Meissen sculpture.
Marks: Underglaze blue cross swords marks
Provenance
South German Private CollectionLiterature
See:
1. "The Gallery of Meissen Animals" - Augustus The Strong's menagerie for the Japanese Palace in Dresden by Samuel Wittwer p. 351 - a pied Wagtail (latin name Motacilla Alba). Modeller - Johann Gottlieb Kirchner - proven.
2. Meissen China, an illustrated history by Dr. K. Berling, editor. See opposite (p. 12) on table 4, a wagtail - image no. 6 modeled by Johann Gottlieb Kirchner. "as Berling states on p. 13 "The Wagtail (58*, 23cms) on table 4 was Kirchner's work".
3. Die Meissner porzellantiere, IM 18..Jahrhundert - Carl Albiker Image No. 142 - Kirchner, Bachstelze (Wagtail) 26.5cms circa 1733 Dresden, Porzellansammlung (Zwinger Palace, Dresden) for a similar example.
4. Meissen Porzellanplastik, S.169ff.a - a pair of porcelain figures of wagtails.