Large, rare mythological Meissen figurine group "Dance of the Hours". Original title Round terrain base covered with sculpted flowers and leaves with ornamental border in relief. In the center, a detachable figure of a winged youth standing on a fluted column stump, leaning against a cornucopia with sculpted rose petals. Grouped around him are five goddesses dancing in a round dance in antique-style robes, the Greek goddesses of regulated life and embodiments of the seasons, all connected by a sculpted garland of flowers (movable). Polychrome painting with rich gold decoration. Designed by Carl Gotthelf Starcke the Younger. Model no. L 15, unmarked; sword mark. Height 37 cm. A group in the style of classicism by Carl Gotthelf Starcke Jr.; born in Meissen in 1778, the modeller first attended the Meissen School of Drawing before beginning an apprenticeship as a bosser under Jüchtzer in 1792. From 1799, Starcke was permanently employed as a modeller, but left the manufactory in 1805. The original porcelain design envisaged a sixth figure as a crowning figure, but a design drawing preserved in the archive shows a boy armourer standing on the column stump with a bow and arrows. The paintings "Adoration of the Golden Calf", "Dance in Honor of Pirapus" and "Dance to the Music of Kronos" by Nicolas Poussin probably served as models for the design of the dancing Hore. Cf. P. von Spee, Klassizistische Porzellanplastik der Meissener Manufaktur, (diss.), Bonn, 2004, pp. 119, 146f. and cat. no. 250, p. 396. A large rare mythological figure group titled "Dance of the hores" by C. G Starcke. Insignificantly chipped. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Circa 1935 - 1945.