Highly important pair of Meissen Sparrowhawks (Accipter Nisus) modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler, Circa 1734
Further images
Highly important pair of Meissen Sparrowhawks (Accipter Nisus) modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler, the birds sitting on raised tree trunks with leaves and flowers. Each naturalistically coloured and modelled – one devouring a mouse, the other a lark.
Augustus The Strong, Elector of Saxony, King of Poland had various animals and birds which were kept in his Royal Menagerie/Aviary at Schloss Moritzburg. J.J. Kaendler created life-sized and near life-sized porcelain animals and birds, many destined for the Japanese Palace of Augustus the Strong. To create them, Kaendler found inspiration from nature and copied from life the birds that were in the Royal Aviary at Schloss Moritzburg.
The Sparrowhawk (Accipter Nisus) has brilliant yellow, broad wings and yellow legs with long talons, this skilful predator swoops down to ambush its unaware prey.
They live in dense woodland and forests as well as cities, gardens and suburban areas. They catch garden birds and animals as can be seen in this pair, one with a mouse, the other with a lark.
Marks:
Underglaze blue crossed swords to base of bird with mouse.
Barely visible crossed swords marki on bottom of bird with lark
Two incised marks to base of bird with lark - G5 or 45?
Provenance
Collection of Brigitte Bigar, Geneva/Switzerland, respectively USA, since c. the 1960's
Registered with "The Art Loss Register" - certified 'good' - ALR reference: S00261433
Literature
See Carl Albiker “Die Meissner Porzellantiere IM 18. JAHRHUNDERT, Berlin 1959
Also photographs No’s. 86 & 87 and text no. 86 p. 14.
See also Samuel Wittwer – The Gallery of Meissen Animals (Augustus the Strong’s Menagerie for the Japanese Palace in Dresden) S342 P. 352 of the Sparrowhawk (Lerchenstosser “Lark-Basher”, Lerchen Geyer “Lark Vulture” - likewise known as the Sparrowhawk.
According to Kaendler’s Taxa report: the models were created in 1734 and 1739 and the Taxa for 1734 reads, 1 (….) lark vulture, depicted life size, devouring a lark, resting on an ornate pedestal”.
See also pair of Sparrowhawks in the sale of “property from the collection of Sir Gawaine & Lady Baillie”, Sothebys, 1st May 2013 – lot 22.
Other pairs:
In the Gustav Von Gerhardt collection, sold at Lepke, Berlin – 7th November 1911, lot 87.
Collection of the Right Hon. Lord Hastings, Sotheby’s London, 6th Jue 1950, lot 139
The Collection of Nelson A Rockefeller, Sotheby’s New York, 11th April 1980, lot 81
The Engehard Collection, Christie’s New York, 18th March 2005, lot 34
The Rockefeller Sale, Sotheby’s New York, 11th October 2005, lot 205
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