A large Meissen white figure of a cassowary 20th century

modelled, after the 18th-century original by Johann Joachim Kändler, with a crest, elongated neck and incised overlapping feathers, standing on a tree stump applied with leaves, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, incised crossed swords and incised Weiss marks.

There is restoration to talons on both feet as well as to the applied leafy branches on the base; the lower portion of the base is oversprayed, possibly covering occasional chips or breaks. Otherwise in good condition. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PURCHASERS – CHANGE OF PROPERTY LOCATION POST SALE Purchasers may pay for and pick up their purchases at our York Avenue headquarters until the close of business on the day of each respective auction. After this time, sold property will be transferred to our new offsite facility, Crozier Fine Arts, One Star Ledger Plaza, 69 Court Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Once property has been transferred from our York Avenue location, it will not be available for collection at Crozier Fine Arts for two business days. Crozier's hours of operation for collection are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday. Please note, certain items of property, including jewelry, watches, silver, works on panel and items valued $10 million or more will remain at 1334 York Avenue. Invoices and statements will indicate your property's location. For more information regarding collection from our offsite facility, please visit sothebys.com/pickup.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The original version of this figure was modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler in September 1732, as his work records state: 'hingegen hat der Modellier Kentler.. den Vogel Casuarium in Lebensgröße poussiert und gefertiget.' [For his part, the modeller Kentler... has modeled and made ready the bird known as the cassowary, life-size.] Samuel Wittwer illustrates this bird being displayed in the banqueting hall of the Residenzschloss in Dresden, circa 1920, in The Gallery of Meissen Animals, English version, p. 220, fig. 200, and notes on p. 186 that this model is "the largest of the animal figures preserved from the eighteenth century." This model is noted, ibid., p. 332, as revived in February- July 1925 by Karl Stein copying the above-mentioned original, currently residing in the Dresden Porcelain Collection.