A rare set of four Meissen 'Elements' ewers, 19th century

Property from a Distinguished Southern Family

A rare set of four Meissen 'Elements' ewers, 19th century

outside decorated, after the eighteenth-century model from the Elements series by Johann Joachim Kändler, of flattened ovoid form,

Water,

applied with a figure of Neptune, seahorses, and a mermaid, the body molded with ships in full sail, the foot molded with bulrushes and dolphins, the foliate handle applied with a putto and dolphin, the spout molded as a shell, the foot applied with two dolphins;

Earth,

applied with figures of Diana and Pana, the body molded with a hunt scene, the wheatsheaf molded handle surmounted by a putti figure with a basket of fruit, 

Fire,

applied with a figure of Vulcan, the body molded with a scene of animals fleeing from a fire, an erupting volcano on the reverse, the handled formed as a curling dragon, and

Air,

applied with a figure of Juno with a peacock and Zephyr, the body molded with birds in flight amongst clouds, the drape handle surmounted by two winged putti playing a set of bagpipes, the foot molded with feathers,

cancelled crossed swords marks in underglaze-blue, incised model numerals

height of tallest 26 in.

66 cm