Paire de statuettes en porcelaine de Meissen représentant les allégories de l'Afrique et l'Amerique, circa 1745-50

A pair of Meissen allegorical groups of 'Africa' and 'America', circa 1745-50

Modelled by J.J. Kaendler, 'Africa' wearing an elephant headdress and long white cloak over a feather tunic, holding a wheat sheaf and a staff and seated on a recumbent lion, 'America' seated on a crocodile by a palm tree, holding a cornucopia and a parrot and wearing a feather headdress, cape and skirt and jewelled bands, the bases applied with leaves and flowers, 18.5cm and 19cm high, 'Africa' with crossed swords mark in blue, 'America' with impressed 34 (minor chips) (2)
Footnotes:
The model of 'Africa' is listed in Kaendler's work records in August 1746: 'Ein Modell zertheilet, und zerschnitten Wie es Erfordert Wird, Welches das Theil der Welt Africam Vorstellet und Selbiges zum ausformen befördert' [a model sectioned and cut as required, which depicts the part of the world Africa and forwarded for moulding]. The Taxa of overtime work includes: 'Eine Grouppe Africam vorstellend, da ein Frauenzimer auff einem Löwen sizt, so in der rechten Hand einen Scepter, in der linken aber Corallen und Korn Aehren hält' [a group depicting Africa, with a lady seated on a lion, holding a sceptre in the right hand and corals and wheatsheaves in the left].

The model of 'America' is listed in Kaendler's Taxa of overtime work in late 1745: 'Ein Groupgen Americam vorstellend mit Crocodille worauff ein mit vielen Juwelen gemschmücktes Fraunzimer sizt in einem Kleide von lauter Federn' [a group depicting America with a bejewelled lady seated on a crocodile wearing a feather costume]. Eberlein's work records in June 1747 note that he assisted with the preparation of the model for casting: 'Eine Figur, einen Theil der Welt, Americam vorstellend, nachgeholffen und solche zum abgießen zerschnitten' [assisted and cut up for casting a figure depicting a part of the world, America]. Kaendler's work records for August 1747 note that he corrected the model and then sent it for casting.

'Africa':
Thirteen of the leaves on the large tree and three on the small tree are chipped. The sceptre in her right hand is broken off (there is some spray residue along the right forefinger - probably from an old repair to the sceptre). There is a flat chip to both sides of the lion's tongue and some traces of old overpainting.

'America':
There is a small chip to one flower petal and two leaves in the cornucopia. There is a very small flat chip to her left toe. There is a small area of wear to the grey enamel decoration on the crocodile's left hind-leg, and two miniscule spots of wear along the tail. There is a small chip to two of the applied leaves on the base.

Otherwise in good condition.