Pair of Meissen snowball vases Baluster-shaped... Lot 809

Pair of Meissen snowball vases Baluster-shaped body with hood-shaped cover, crowned with foliage and canaries in full relief. All-round, dense base of small, embossed, white flowers accentuated in yellow and purple, surrounded by branching vines in relief with numerous, large flower umbels, so-called snowball spheres. On the wall a large, seated, colorful parrot and scattered insects. Polychrome painting. Designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler. Partially restored; crossed swords mark. H. 68.5 cm - 69 cm. Inspired by East Asian decorations, J. J. Kaendler began in 1739 for the first time to cover the surfaces of porcelain with sculptural flowers on all sides, instead of embossing them partially as before, which was an artistic sensation as well as a technical masterpiece. These extremely expensive vases quickly became coveted cabinet pieces of courtly decoration. In 1741/42, Kaendler modeled a series of vases for Louis XV of France; Frederick the Great ordered six lidded vases in 1745 and, from 1762, numerous other vases for the decoration of the New Palace in Potsdam. Such snowball vases were coveted cabinet pieces and were placed on consoles and mantelpieces or between wall panels. Cf. Rückert, no. 676ff; Pietsch, no. 411; Keramos, 208, 2010, p. 38. A pair of porcelain "Schneeball vases" with figures of canaries, parrots and insects. Partly restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Mid 19th century.