Impressive Meissen "Elements" Ewer Personifying Water, ca. 1850-1900, German, after a model by Johann Joachim Kandler (1706-1775), the base decorated with dolphins, a mermaid pursuing a trio of hippocampi through the water, a fleet of ships in the background raised in bas relief, Neptune sitting in a shell overlooking the sight, against a ground of hand-painted insects, the handle in the form of bundled water reeds connecting to the shell-molded spout, marked with the pommel-ended crossed swords underglaze blue mark, with two cancellation lines underneath, h. 23-3/4", w. 14", d. 8".

Fabulous lot in generally good condition. The half-glazed interior body with an area of fairly deep firing cracks down the body visible from the exterior shell between and below the FOUR hippocampi--all professionally restored and well-integrated. One tail below the handle restored and with a tiny surface nick. Insignificant repairs include the mermaid's index finger on the raised hand, Neptune's big toe on the forward foot and a loss to one of his laurel leaves. Very scattered surface flaking to the narrow tapering area of professionally painted plaster (probably for leveling purposes) above where the body joins the foot. The foot interior with a firing crack adjacent to the drilled bolt hole along with a faint vertical firing crack (approx. 1-1/4") up from the lower edge. Foot interior incised underglaze: "320" and a very small impressed: "99" or "66".