True Connoisseurship: The Collection of Ezra & Cecile Zilkha
True Connoisseurship: The Collection of Ezra & Cecile Zilkha
A MEISSEN LARGE FIGURE OF A JAY AND SQUIRREL, CIRCA 1740-45
Auction Closed
November 20, 10:09 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A MEISSEN LARGE FIGURE OF A JAY AND SQUIRREL
CIRCA 1740-45
modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler, perched on a high stump pecking at acorns, applied with a large running squirrel, two beetles and caterpillar, as well as leaves and toadstools, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue to underside of base
height 21 1/4 in.
54 cm
Christie's London, 23 April, 1998, lot 241
Jays, Eichel Gabicht, were first modeled for Augustus III for the porcelain menagerie at the Japanese Palace and appear in Kändler's work report in October 1735:
"Einen Eigelgabich poussiret welcher ins Königl. Balläis gehörig ist, vorgestellet wie er auf einem großen Eigel Ast sietzet welcher mit Eigeln und Blättern starck bewachsen ist, und sich eine Eigel abfrißet welches sein Futter ist, So sind auch unterschiedliche Raupen wie auch ein Pöner, welche sich gerne auf den Eigel Bäumen aufhalten Daran Befindlich, Johann Joachim Kändler.", [modeled a jay which is to go to the Royal Palace, done sitting on a large oak branch thick with acorns and leaves, and eating an acorn, which is its food. Various insects which are to be found on oak-trees, such as a "Pöner" [=stag beetle], are also included, Johann Joachim Kändler] (Samuel Wittwer, The Gallery of Meissen Animals, Augustus the Strong's Menagerie for the Japanese Palace in Dresden, Munich 2006, p. 341). Two figures were recorded in the Japanese Palace on March 9, 1736, though are not referenced in the 1770 and 1779 inventories.
Kändler's Taxa for October 1, 1739 to January 31, 1740 notes: "1. Eichel Gabicht ebenfalls in Lebens Größe, wie solcher auff auf einem Stock sizet, natürlich vorgestellet, neben dem Gabicht ist ein Eichhorn in Lebens Größe auf einem Ast sizend in Thon poußiret, nebst anderen daran befindl. Zierathen", [1 jay, also life-size, displayed as it perches naturally on a stump, next to the jay is a squirrel seated on a branch, modelled in clay along with other embellishments].
A pair of jays was displayed in Clemens August's Crönungs-Saal, according to the Schloss Poppelsdorf inventory: 'Noch ein paar Markolfen aufm Baum mit einem Eichhörngen' [Another pair of jays on a tree with a squirrel], see Erich Köllmann, 'Kurfürst Clemens August von Köln Ein Porzellansammler des 18. Jahrhunderts', Keramos, 13, 1961, p. 26.
A smaller pair (approximately 15 in. high) was sold, Property from the Estate of Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Christie's New York, 18 March, 2005, lot 38; and a further pair from the Collection of Sir Gawaine and Lady Baillie was sold at Sotheby's London, 1 May, 2013 lot 21. A large example of the same size as the present lot, from the Collection of Henry Arnhold was exhibited at the Frick Collection, New York, Porcelain, No Simple Matter: Arlene Shechet and the Arnhold Collection, 24 May, 2016 to 2 April, 2017.
Sotheby's Scientific Research department used noninvasive XRF for this lot to screen the green enamel for chromium, which was not detected.
"Einen Eigelgabich poussiret welcher ins Königl. Balläis gehörig ist, vorgestellet wie er auf einem großen Eigel Ast sietzet welcher mit Eigeln und Blättern starck bewachsen ist, und sich eine Eigel abfrißet welches sein Futter ist, So sind auch unterschiedliche Raupen wie auch ein Pöner, welche sich gerne auf den Eigel Bäumen aufhalten Daran Befindlich, Johann Joachim Kändler.", [modeled a jay which is to go to the Royal Palace, done sitting on a large oak branch thick with acorns and leaves, and eating an acorn, which is its food. Various insects which are to be found on oak-trees, such as a "Pöner" [=stag beetle], are also included, Johann Joachim Kändler] (Samuel Wittwer, The Gallery of Meissen Animals, Augustus the Strong's Menagerie for the Japanese Palace in Dresden, Munich 2006, p. 341). Two figures were recorded in the Japanese Palace on March 9, 1736, though are not referenced in the 1770 and 1779 inventories.
Kändler's Taxa for October 1, 1739 to January 31, 1740 notes: "1. Eichel Gabicht ebenfalls in Lebens Größe, wie solcher auff auf einem Stock sizet, natürlich vorgestellet, neben dem Gabicht ist ein Eichhorn in Lebens Größe auf einem Ast sizend in Thon poußiret, nebst anderen daran befindl. Zierathen", [1 jay, also life-size, displayed as it perches naturally on a stump, next to the jay is a squirrel seated on a branch, modelled in clay along with other embellishments].
A pair of jays was displayed in Clemens August's Crönungs-Saal, according to the Schloss Poppelsdorf inventory: 'Noch ein paar Markolfen aufm Baum mit einem Eichhörngen' [Another pair of jays on a tree with a squirrel], see Erich Köllmann, 'Kurfürst Clemens August von Köln Ein Porzellansammler des 18. Jahrhunderts', Keramos, 13, 1961, p. 26.
A smaller pair (approximately 15 in. high) was sold, Property from the Estate of Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Christie's New York, 18 March, 2005, lot 38; and a further pair from the Collection of Sir Gawaine and Lady Baillie was sold at Sotheby's London, 1 May, 2013 lot 21. A large example of the same size as the present lot, from the Collection of Henry Arnhold was exhibited at the Frick Collection, New York, Porcelain, No Simple Matter: Arlene Shechet and the Arnhold Collection, 24 May, 2016 to 2 April, 2017.
Sotheby's Scientific Research department used noninvasive XRF for this lot to screen the green enamel for chromium, which was not detected.