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akg8282459 MAGNIFICENT PORCELAIN FIGURES DEPICTING ALLEGORIES OF THE FOUR CONTINENTS Meissen. 19th century. Models predominantly J.F. Eberlein. With the collaboration of J.J. Kaendler and P. Reinicke Porcelain, enriched in colours and gold. The Allegory of Europe as an empress with crown, sceptre and imperial orb, sitting on a marble bench. Behind her a large, stately horse and at her feet on an oval grass base globe, painter's palette, sheet music, an antique bust of a woman, compass and chisel as well as an antique armour laying on the rear side. Asia depicted as a female personification as well, wearing a splendid garment. In this case sitting on a large camel which is resting next to a palm tree. On her head a turban-like crow and holding a sceptre in her right hand, an incense burner on her left knee. The personification of the continent of Africa depicted as a dark-skinned woman in a garment with colourful feather decoration and wide cape. Wearing an elephant's head as a headdress, in the right hand a sceptre as well and in the raised left hand a bundle of ears or corn. Her animal is a large lion looking up to her and laying on a rectancular stone base. The continent of America depicted as a woman with a crown of feathers, a long, colourful feather cloak and matching apron. A parrot sitting in her right hand and holding a large cornucopia with numerous blossoms in her left arm. She sits on a large crocodile, which is facing the viewer with its jaws wide open. The rectangular base is studded with blossoms. Height 27cm / 31.5cm / 30.5cm / 28.5cm. Swords mark. Africa with model no. 689. Condition B/C-C. Provenance: Private Hessian collection. Literature: - Eikelmann, Renate (ed.): Meißner Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts - Die Stiftung Ernst Schneider in Schloß Lustheim, Munich 2004, p.384f. - Pietsch, Ulrich (ed.): Meißen für die Zaren - Porzellan als Mittel sächsisch-russischer Politik im 18. Jahrhundert, Munich 2004. For the present figurines see p.90ff. The present cycle of the four continents Europe, Asia, Africa and America was commissioned by Tsarina Elisabeth (1741-1762) in Meissen. Elisabeth had already become acquainted with the precious products of the Meissen manufactory at an early age when August the Strong sent her '6 boxes filled with very beautiful Saxon porcelain' as a gift in 1728 and developed a passion for them (Pietsch (2004), p.11). The exchange of diplomatic gifts between Saxony and the Tsar's court had already a long tradition. In the year 1728 August the Strong sent the finest products of his porcelain manufactory as presents to the court of Peter the Great for the first time. There the objects were enthusiastically received and highly appreciated. So it was that during the reign of Tsarina Elisabeth (1741-1762), the 'white gold' was often used by Saxons as a diplomatic gift as well. Above all, the porcelain gift that August III sent to St. Petersburg in 1745 on the occasion of the wedding of the Russian heir to the throne and nephew of the Tsarina, Karl Peter Ulrich von Holstein-Gottorf, eclipsed all previous gifts from the Saxon court. The 'Andreasservice' included not only service parts such as plates, terrines and chandeliers but also more than 190 figures as decoration for the dessert table as well as 90 flower vases and three large fireplace sets (Pietsch (2004) 66ff.). Tsarina Elisabeth was extremely enthusiastic about this magnificent gift, and in the same year she commissioned figurines from the manufactory herself. In addition to the allegories of the four seasons and the five senses, it also included the cycle of continents presented here. They were done by Johann Friedrich Eberlein with the cooperation of Kaendler and Reinicke between 1745 and 1747. Copper engravings after drawings by Gottfried Bernhard Götz served as templates (Eikelmann (2004) p.384). Art trade, Van Ham.