True Connoisseurship: The Collection of Ezra & Cecile Zilkha
True Connoisseurship: The Collection of Ezra & Cecile Zilkha
A PAIR OF MEISSEN FIGURES OF GREEN WOODPECKERS, CIRCA 1745
Auction Closed
November 20, 10:09 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
A PAIR OF MEISSEN FIGURES OF GREEN WOODPECKERS
CIRCA 1745
modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler, with green, red and black plumage, each perched on a slender stump applied with turquoise leaves, indistinct impressed numerals
height 10 5/8 in. and 10 1/8 in.
27 cm and 25.7 cm
Christie's London, 7 October, 1996, lot 471
Green woodpeckers are mentioned in Kändler's Taxa or work records in February 1733 and again in 1734: 'Im Monath Febrarii 1733 Sind an Neuen Modellen gefertiget Worden folgende...Ein GrünSpecht, Kändler...Im Monath Martio 1734 sind auf hiesiger Königl. Pohl. und Churfürstl. Sächß. Porcellain Fabrique an Neuen Modellen gefertiget worden...Einen Grünspecht auch in Lebens Größe und ruhet auf Einem verzierten Postament, Johann Joachim Kändler' [In the month of February 1733 the following new models were completed...a green woodpecker, Kändler...In the month of March 1734 new models were finished here, at the Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Porcelain Factory...a green woodpecker, life-sized and resting on an ornate pedestal, Johann Joachim Kändler].
Two examples of this 1733-34 model, bearing Japanese Palace inventory number No.282./W in black enamel, were sold at Sotheby's London, 2 June, 2005, lot 28. These examples were sold in the sale of duplicates at Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 7-8 October, 1919, lots 105 and 106 (illus. pl. 12.), and subsequently entered the Ole Olsen Collection, Copenhagen, sold, his sale, Winkel & Magnussen, Copenhagen, Part IV, 4 May, 1953, lot 687.
After the Japanese Palace project was abandoned by Augustus III the Woodpecker model appears to be have been subsequently made in a smaller size, like the present type, presumably for general sale, albeit apparently in fairly small numbers. A pair of woodpeckers of the present type, mounted in ormolu, was in the Collection of Mrs. John E. Rovensky, sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 18 January, 1957, lot 718; one was in the Collection of René Fribourg, sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 15 October, 1963, lot 474; a pair was sold at Christie's London, 5 December, 1983, lot 147; and a further pair was in the Estate of Laurance S. Rockefeller, sold in these rooms, 11 October, 2005, lot 196. Most recently two from the Collection of Sir Gawaine and Lady Baillie were sold at Sotheby's London, 1 May, 2013, lot 7.
Sotheby's Scientific Research department used noninvasive XRF for this lot to screen the green enamel for chromium, which was not detected.
Two examples of this 1733-34 model, bearing Japanese Palace inventory number No.282./W in black enamel, were sold at Sotheby's London, 2 June, 2005, lot 28. These examples were sold in the sale of duplicates at Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 7-8 October, 1919, lots 105 and 106 (illus. pl. 12.), and subsequently entered the Ole Olsen Collection, Copenhagen, sold, his sale, Winkel & Magnussen, Copenhagen, Part IV, 4 May, 1953, lot 687.
After the Japanese Palace project was abandoned by Augustus III the Woodpecker model appears to be have been subsequently made in a smaller size, like the present type, presumably for general sale, albeit apparently in fairly small numbers. A pair of woodpeckers of the present type, mounted in ormolu, was in the Collection of Mrs. John E. Rovensky, sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 18 January, 1957, lot 718; one was in the Collection of René Fribourg, sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., 15 October, 1963, lot 474; a pair was sold at Christie's London, 5 December, 1983, lot 147; and a further pair was in the Estate of Laurance S. Rockefeller, sold in these rooms, 11 October, 2005, lot 196. Most recently two from the Collection of Sir Gawaine and Lady Baillie were sold at Sotheby's London, 1 May, 2013, lot 7.
Sotheby's Scientific Research department used noninvasive XRF for this lot to screen the green enamel for chromium, which was not detected.