A fine set of four Louis XV ormolu-mounted Meissen figures of the four Continents circa 1745-50, modelled by J. J. Kaendler

each Continent modeled as a woman with her attributes: Europe on a prancing horse; Africa on a recumbent lion; American on a crocodile, and Asia seated on a camel; each before a tree and raised on voluted ormolu bases chased with foliate motifs and pierced with C-scrolls.  Some losses.

Possibly, Christie's, Monaco, December 8, 1990, lot 124

There are two versions of this series, the groups in this lot constitute the smaller series modelled by Kaendler; the larger series was modelled at approximately the same time by Eberlein and is very similar.  Other complete sets are illustrated in the Catalogue of Dr. Julius Bischitz Collection, sold at Glückselig in Vienna on April 11, 1929, lot 40-43, plates 11 and 12; and in the Catalogue of the C.H. Fischer collection, sold at Lempertz, Cologne, October 24, 1906,lot 750-753, pl. XLVII.

'Europe' is illustrated, C. Albiker, Die Meissner Porzellantiere im 18. Jahrhundert, (1959 edition) number 258; W.B. Honey, Dresden China, pl. XLVI (a); K. Butler, Meissner Porzellanplastik des 18. Jahrhunderts, the Hermitage catalogue, plate 72; Elizabeth Temple Casey, The Lucy Truman Aldrich Collection of European Porcelain Figures of the Eighteenth Century, page 51, color plate 3, figure 23; and in the Catalogue of the Robert Holitscher Collection, sold at the Ernst-Museums in Budapest, 1917, lot 588, pl. 45.  'Africa' is illustrated, K. Butler, op. cit., pl. 74.  'Asia' is illustrated by Albiker, op. cit. number 259, and Butler, op. cit. pl. 73.

An identical, unmounted, series formerly in the collection of Nelson A. Rockefeller was sold, Sotheby's, New York, November 4, 1980, lot 194.