Description
Historically significant and extremely rare temple from a dessert centerpiece of Tsarina Catherine II of Russia Porcelain and fire-gilt bronze. Quadripartite pedestal, open staircase at the front and back bordered by curved, openwork railings. Figures standing in front of four double columns surrounded by sculpted flower tendrils. In the center is Tsarina Catherine II of Russia with a purple cloak, at her feet victory trophies, receiving a golden scroll of documents with her left hand from the beak of a crowned eagle, the Russian heraldic animal, as a symbol of her victories and rule over the Russian Empire. To her left is a young Turkish warrior with a sabre and turban, personifying the Ottoman Empire, which Catherine defeated in several wars between 1768 and 1792. To her right is an Indian with a feather headdress, probably representing Alaska under the Russian protectorate as an important fur-producing region. Opposite her is a festively dressed young lady with a turban and a basket of wheat as a figurative allegory of the conquered Crimea. Above an arched arcade with openwork rocaille and latticework. Minimally restored; h. 55 cm. 77 cm x 64.5 cm. Provenance: from an important North German private collection, acquired at Schloss Ahlden, auction no. 168, lot 838. To represent the Tsarist Empire, the Tsarina placed a series of commissions with the Meissen manufactory and the private Gardner manufactory in Moscow, founded in 1765. At the beginning of their activity, several employees trained in Meissen worked for Gardner. The overall concept of this lavishly executed, precious centerpiece goes back to Meissen designs. However, the individual artistic design of the porcelain sculptures shows parallels to Gardner's figures and groups. The iconographic and art-historical value of Catherine the Great's centerpiece lies in the expression of her power over the entire Eastern European region and large former Ottoman territories as a result of the victorious Turkish wars. The conquest of the Crimea under the reign of the Tsarina, which gave her access to the Black Sea, is depicted in particular. It is likely that the court or the Tsarina herself commissioned this unique early Russian porcelain piece, who also had three parade services, so-called Order Services, made by the Gardner manufactory. See Pietsch, cat. Meissen für die Zaren; Popow, Russisches Porzellan, p. 11, figs. 9-10, 15. A historically important porcelain temple as centerpiece for Catherine the Great. Russia. Moscow. Gardner. Circa 1780 - 1790.
2491
Historically significant and extremely rare temple from a dessert centerpiece of Tsarina Catherine II of Russia Porcelain and fire-gilt bronze. Quadripartite pedestal, open staircase at the front and back bordered by curved, openwork railings. Figures standing in front of four double columns surrounded by sculpted flower tendrils. In the center is Tsarina Catherine II of Russia with a purple cloak, at her feet victory trophies, receiving a golden scroll of documents with her left hand from the beak of a crowned eagle, the Russian heraldic animal, as a symbol of her victories and rule over the Russian Empire. To her left is a young Turkish warrior with a sabre and turban, personifying the Ottoman Empire, which Catherine defeated in several wars between 1768 and 1792. To her right is an Indian with a feather headdress, probably representing Alaska under the Russian protectorate as an important fur-producing region. Opposite her is a festively dressed young lady with a turban and a basket of wheat as a figurative allegory of the conquered Crimea. Above an arched arcade with openwork rocaille and latticework. Minimally restored; h. 55 cm. 77 cm x 64.5 cm. Provenance: from an important North German private collection, acquired at Schloss Ahlden, auction no. 168, lot 838. To represent the Tsarist Empire, the Tsarina placed a series of commissions with the Meissen manufactory and the private Gardner manufactory in Moscow, founded in 1765. At the beginning of their activity, several employees trained in Meissen worked for Gardner. The overall concept of this lavishly executed, precious centerpiece goes back to Meissen designs. However, the individual artistic design of the porcelain sculptures shows parallels to Gardner's figures and groups. The iconographic and art-historical value of Catherine the Great's centerpiece lies in the expression of her power over the entire Eastern European region and large former Ottoman territories as a result of the victorious Turkish wars. The conquest of the Crimea under the reign of the Tsarina, which gave her access to the Black Sea, is depicted in particular. It is likely that the court or the Tsarina herself commissioned this unique early Russian porcelain piece, who also had three parade services, so-called Order Services, made by the Gardner manufactory. See Pietsch, cat. Meissen für die Zaren; Popow, Russisches Porzellan, p. 11, figs. 9-10, 15. A historically important porcelain temple as centerpiece for Catherine the Great. Russia. Moscow. Gardner. Circa 1780 - 1790.
