ORIGIN OF MANUFACTORY:    MEISSEN GERMANY

DATING OF MANUFACTURE:    AROUND  1860

MATERIAL:       CHINA PORCELAIN / GLOSSY FINISH

TECHNIQUE:     HAND MADE AND HAND PAINTED PORCELAIN

DESIGNER:
MICHAEL VICTOR ACIER   (1736 VERSAILLES  -  1799 DRESDEN)
The sculptor was born at Versailles / France. He had studied Art of Sculpture in Paris and was appointed as sculptor of Meissen Porcelain Manufactory then (1762). Acier created many models generally in style of Rococo and specially in Watteau style. Finally, the sculptor became Model Master of the Saxon King in year 1780, moving to Dresden then.
Design of model  10  in 1773-1775.
 

'ALLEGORY OF MUSIC'

Three putti with musical instruments grouped on a rock pedestal. The standing putto, holding an angel's trumpet in his hand, embraces the musician sitting next to him playing the lyre, the third Cupid accompanies him on his flute. The music book is placed on a small pedestal, books and a violin are lying on the ground.
The rock base is rounded at the front and bordered on the side by a gold-raised cord with a colored leaf garland frieze.

The design of this group belongs to the models of the 'Great Russian Order'. The total of 40 small sculptures were commissioned in 1772 for Empress Catherine II from Kändler, who provided all the drafts. Michael Victor Acier was then called in as modeler for the shaping. The figures were destined to furnish a cabinet in a pavilion in the garden of Oranienbaum Palace near St. Petersburg. The painting is one of eight allegories that refer to Katharina's role as a patron of the arts and science

SIZE:   height:   8.46  inches

MARKS:
MEISSEN CROSSED SWORD MARK of the 19th CENTURY / FIRST QUALITY

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- Thomas & Sabine Bergmann,  Meissen Figures / Erlangen (Germany) 2017, Model Numbers  Series and Animals,  catalogue number 3379  on page 131.

CONDITION:   EXCELLENT