King Vulture
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Kändler, Johann Joachim, born 1706 - died 1775 (probably
The modelling was previously attribute to Johann Gottlieb Kirchner , modeller)
Christian Reinow, born 1685 - died 1749 (lacquerer)
Shiefer, Andreas (craftsman)
Meissen porcelain factory (manufacturers)
- Materials and Techniques:
Hard-paste porcelain, painted in unfired colours
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Art Fund, and the Friends of the V&A
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This extraordinary sculpture of a vulture is from the porcelain menagerie commissioned by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony, for the 'Japanese Palace' in Dresden. This commission is one of the great landmarks in ceramic history. Nearly 600 life-size animals were planned, and at least 458 were made. Work began in 1730, only 20 years after Meissen had become the first European factory to make porcelain in the Chinese manner.
Augustus had specified that the animals should have their natural colours. Normally, this would be achieved by the use of enamels. However, the factory technicians thought it too risky to subject the largest models to the heat of an enamel firing. Instead they partly painted them in bright, unfired pigments. Such colours rarely survive, as they fade over time and have often been completely removed.
This King Vulture model exists in three different versions: some crouching, some with head down, and some standing upright. These variations were introduced by the 'repairer' (the skilled craftsman who assembled the separately moulded parts of the model prior to firing), probably in the interest of variety.
Physical description
Sculpture, hard-paste porcelain, painted in unfired colours, of a King Vulture. The vulture is positioned crouching on an oak tree stump, with head turned slightly to one side. Much of the original colouring has now discoloured, and only traces of the original bright red remain on the head.
Place of Origin
Meissen, Germany (made)
Date
ca. 1731 (made)
Artist/maker
Kändler, Johann Joachim, born 1706 - died 1775 (probably
The modelling was previously attribute to Johann Gottlieb Kirchner , modeller)
Christian Reinow, born 1685 - died 1749 (lacquerer)
Shiefer, Andreas (craftsman)
Meissen porcelain factory (manufacturers)
Materials and Techniques
Hard-paste porcelain, painted in unfired colours
Marks and inscriptions
'X'
Dimensions
Height: 57.5 cm approximately, Width: 23 cm approximate width of base
Object history note
Provenance. From the porcelain menagerie commissioned for the 'Japanese Palace', Dresden, by Augustus the Strong (1694/7-1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.
By repute given by a member of the Baring family to John Alexander, 4th Marquess of Bath (1831-1896), Longleat, and thence by descent (recorded in inventories of Longleat in 1869 as 'A white Dresden vulture', and in 1896 as '21 in. white porcelain vulture on a stump'). Sold Christies, London, 13 June 2002, lot 353.
Descriptive line
Sculpture, hard-paste porcelain, painted in unfired colours, of a King Vulture, made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany, ca.1731
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Samuel Wittwer, The Gallery of Meissen Animals: Augustus the Strong's Menagerie for the Japanese Palace in Dresden (2006), passim and pp. 357-358.
Exhibition History
Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the V&A (Art Gallery of Western Australia 24/09/2011-09/01/2012)
Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces 1600-1800 from the V&A (National Museum of Korea (Seoul) 02/05/2011-28/08/2011)
Production Note
From the porcelain menagerie commissioned for the 'Japanese Palace', Dresden, by Augustus the Strong (1694/7-1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland.
Probably modelled by Johann Joachim Kaendler (1706-1776), possibly in collaboration with Johann Gottlieb Kirchner (born 1706); painted in unfired pigments by the Dresden court lacquerer Christian Reinow; the base bears the 'X' mark of the 'former' (factory craftsman) Andreas Shiefer.
Subjects depicted
Birds; Vultures; Condors
Categories
Porcelain; Sculpture
Collection code
CER
