A rare German white porcelain 'Schwarzburger Jagdtafelschmuck', after models by Otto Thiem (1876 - 1956) Schwarzburger Werkstaetten für Porzellankunst, 1910-1912

Property of the heirs of the last reigning Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, sold, Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 17 December 2008, lot 342.

Dieter Marek and Doreen Winker, Anna Luise von Schwarzburg 1871-1951, Ein Leben in Bildern aus ihrem photographischen Nachlass, Rudolstadt, 2005, pp. 100 and 101.

The ‘Hunting Table Centrepiece’—comprising eighteen individual models—ranks among the most extensive and artistically accomplished creations of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst. In 1910, Fürstin Anna Luise von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1871-1951) commissioned the Thuringian sculptor Otto Thiem to design this ensemble of hunting figures and groups as a gift to mark the 60th birthday of her husband, Fürst Günther Viktor zu Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (1852-1925). The figures and groups were to represent detailed portraits of members of a hunting party after a successful shoot, including intimate family members and friends but also forest officials and beaters. Since it was Fürstin Anna Luise's wish to be closely involved in the progress of the work, a special workshop for Thiem was installed at Schloss Schwarzburg. On 21 August 1912, the groups and figures, The Schwarzburger Jagdtafelschmuck, were presented to the Fürst for his birthday and exhibited on the banquet table in the Imperial Hall (Kaisersaal) at Schloss Schwarzburg. That same year, these porcelain figures by Otto Thiem attracted significant attention at the Great Art Exhibition in Dresden and a year later, in September, the artist participated in an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Weimar. Numerous photographs from the preparatory phase reveal (with figures marked by crosses) that Otto Thiem selected specific poses for the individuals—likely in collaboration with the Princess—and subsequently translated them into models. Immediately after, it is thought that the models for the pieces were stored in the Schloss and the Fürstin forbade more casts to be produced. How many examples of figures and groups were produced in the end can no longer be determined, but it is known that two complete sets were owned by the princely family. The porcelain groups offered herewith belonged to the heirs of the last reigning Princess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and thus are of particular rarity, as they probably formed part of the original commission described above.    

"Günther's 60th birthday: already at 01.00 at night I congratulated Günther before we went to bed. After my early breakfast I sat down while Günther had his breakfast. Earlier I had spoken to Director Pfeiffer [the director of the Schwarzburger Werkstätten für Porzellankunst] and the sculptor Thiem, had arranged with their help the hunting groups and figures on the dining table. In the course of the afternoon Mother-in-law, Thekla and I offered Günther our presents, then the courtiers and Mr. von Wätjen arrived to congratulate him. We had our hot chocolate in the Garden Salon. Then, I decorated the groups on the dining table with oak leaves. Then some writing. For dinner also sculptor Thiem came. After dinner a game of 'sjoelbak'. Then I accompanied Günther who towards the evening left for the forest with Wätjen (...)."

(excerpt from Fürstin Anna Luise's diary, dated Wednesday 21 August 1912)