White porcelain. Over a relief sculpted naturalistic base, a standing row of fish herons, preening their feathers, is depicted. The neck is gracefully curved in a large, sweeping arc towards the back. The feathered plumage is finely detailed in relief. Possibly by Johann Joachim Kaendler, 1732. Model number 52. Year mark. Some minor cracks. Impressed white ware and underglaze blue crossed swords mark. Height 76 cm. The so-called "Great Animal Commission" of August the Strong was executed between 1731 and 1735 by Johann Gottlieb Kirchner and Johann Joachim Kaendler. It served as a study of nature and the artistic abilities of the modelers, as well as the techniques of working with porcelain mass and kilns, which posed great challenges. The commissioner for such large sculptures was in the 1730s of the 18th century August the Strong for the "Royal Collection" in the Japanese Palace. This splendidly executed example, modeled in detail according to a naturalistic model, is part of Kaendler's series of large animal sculptures. See Pietzsch, Catalogue of Meissen Porcelain Sculptures, No. 262ff; Albiker, Foreword. An exceptional naturalistic molded porcelain figure of a heron, modeled by J.J. Kaendler, originally executed for the Royal Collection of August the Strong in the Japanese Palace. Date mark. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. 1957.
