Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Figure of the Day: A Meissen Sweetmeat Stand, 1735

Sweetmeat Stand
Meissen, 1735
This and all related images from:
The Victoria & Albert Museum



As I’ve previously mentioned, I especially like the work of Meissen’s J.J. Kändler (1706-1775). He worked for the Meissen porcelain factory between 1731 and 1775, and, there, he was responsible for producing over 2,000 original models for figures, animals, and groups as well as attractive utilitarian wares such as this sweetmeat stand.

Kändler’s workbook of May 1735, notes his own description for this stand which he called an “Indian grotto with shells and leaves for holding sweetmeats.” The stand was accompanied by two separately modeled and removable seated figures. This hard-paste porcelain stand would have held lovely delicacies—the wee cakes, pastries, candies, nuts and sugared fruits which would have concluded the dessert course of a beautiful and elegant meal. 








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