Ghislaine Howard
Sale Coordinator
Lot 52
Two Meissen dolphin-head sculptural brackets from the Swan Service dessert table centrepiece, circa 1739-40
Withdrawn
Amended
7 December 2022, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£6,000 - £8,000
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Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Nette Megens
Head of Department, Director
Sebastian Kuhn
Department Director
Two Meissen dolphin-head sculptural brackets from the Swan Service dessert table centrepiece, circa 1739-40
Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, as a naturalistically coloured dolphin head emerging from two gilt-edged scrolls moulded with reeds on a gilt-edged, canted rectangular bracket on a rockwork base, 24cm across; 16cm high (damaged, one with the dolphin face restuck) (2)
Footnotes
Kaendler created a clay model for a dessert table in late 1737 that was presented to Count Brühl at the end of December but was never made in porcelain. For all of the following year he was preoccupied with numerous models for the table service, but he returned to the dessert table centrepiece in 1739. In his 'Specification derjenigen Modelle, welche zu Confitur Aufsätzen von Feierabendarbeit Endesunterschriebenen, benebst 2 Gesellen verfertiget worden 1./5.-31./8. 39' [specification of those models made for the confectionary centrepiece in overtime by the undersigned along with two assistants 1./5.-31./8. 39], Kaendler lists the main elements of the centrepiece:
1. the large pedestal (1 Elle wide and 3/4 Elle high)
2. small shells for mounting
3. a large hippocamp
4. a triton child blowing a horn that can be placed on the hippocamp
5. a large shell belonging to the hippocamp, which can be placed on top and in which many 'Confituren' can be placed
6. a figure of an old man emblematic of the Elbe and the porcelain manufactory
7. a large shell belonging to the figure of the above man
8. 1 großer Delphin, welcher in einer Muschel befestget ist und Wasser speiet, am Ende aber sich die Muschel in 2 Schnörkel und architectur verwandelt, welches Stück an bemeldtes großes Postament angeschoben wird.
[1 large dolphin, which is fixed in a shell and spouts water, at the end the shell transofrms into two scrolls and architecture, which piece can be attached to the mentioned large pedestal]
9. two children of fine size, which hold shells on the head in which all manner of things can be placed, and which can sit on all four corners of the large pedestal
See U. Pietsch, Schwanenservice (2000), pp. 44f. for a discussion of the centrepiece for the dessert table.
Saleroom notices
Please note, this lot is withdrawn.
