High, barren rock base, adorned with few green, sculptural plants. Standing on the edge, an eagle in gray-yellow and black-feathered plumage, head lowered, directing its gaze upwards towards the snake standing in front of it. Colorful, polychrome glazed painting. Minimal condition, either by Arthur Storch, 1921. Entw. - Monogr. "ASt"; minimal condition; manufacturer's mark. Height 62.5 cm. The model was created in connection with the famous group of 16 monumental animal sculptures by the modelers Hugo Meisel and Arthur Storch, with which the oldest Volkstedt porcelain manufactory caused a great sensation in 1921, when it was involved in the design of the "Porcelain Palace" in Leipzig, which was initially used as an exhibition hall under the direction of architect Hans Poelzig. Due to their extraordinary size, the production posed a special technical challenge. Even today, these are considered masterpieces of artistic and technical craftsmanship. They were produced in only a small series, with estimated no more than 10 versions per model. See cat. Schwarzburger Werkstätten, p. 272ff; Fritzsche, Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur, p. 211f; Zimmermann, in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. 49, 1921-1922, p. 46ff; Porzellandland Thüringen, p. 243ff. Provenance: From the estate of a significant North German private collection. A rare monumental Thuringian porcelain figure of an eagle with snake, modeled by H. Meisel. Minor chipped. Manufacturer's mark. Thuringia. Volkstedt-Rudolstadt. Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanfabrik. 1920s.
