Large Meissen Figurine King August III in Roman Harness attributed to J.J. Kaendler, 1924

Description

Very rare and impressive porcelain statuette: like all baroque rulers, augustus the strong and his son augustus iii cultivated demonstrations … more Very rare and impressive porcelain statuette: like all baroque rulers, augustus the strong and his son augustus iii cultivated demonstrations of their power to represent and legitimise their rule. Their mythological and allegorical stagings were primarily based on the ancient ideal of the roman emperors. Numerous depictions of the two monarchs in ceremonial dress have been preserved in paintings, drawings, stoneware and porcelain figurines and also emphasise their ambitions for the german imperial throne. In 1736, august iii had himself immortalised for the first time as a roman emperor in meissen porcelain: with his left hand on his hip and holding a baton in his outstretched right hand, the king stands on a flat plinth with his left leg in front. He is dressed in armour with leather tassels hanging down like a skirt and decorated with lion heads. A wide cloak hangs over his shoulders and beneath it a belt with a sword attached to the side. He wears a laurel wreath on his head and sandals on his feet, while he has placed his helmet next to his foot. Originally, the king was to be depicted in german armour, but kändler was still working on this model, the plan was changed. Frederick augustus ii (* 17 october 1696 in dresden; † 5 october 1763 ibid.) became elector and duke of saxony in 1733 after the death of his father augustus the strong and, as augustus iii, also king of poland and grand duke of lithuania. Continuing his father's foreign policy, he led the electorate of saxony into the devastating seven years' war. The personal union between saxony and poland ended with his death. His status as one of the greatest patrons of the arts of his time is undisputed. In 1736, he founded the order of st henry. Designer: johann joachim kändler (1706 - 1775) was chief sculptor at the meissen manufactory from 1742 to 1775. He is the most famous modeller meissen manufactory ever had and created famous series such as shepherd figurines, comedian's children, gardener children (with acier), paris town criers (with reinicke and meyer), gallant figurines, etc. Kaendler designed this figurine circa 1736. Manufactory: meissen germany dating: 1924-1934 material: white porcelain, glossy finish technique: handmade and finest hand painting size: height: 44,0 cm / 17.32 inches width: 27,0 cm / 10.62 inches depth: 16,5 cm / 6.49 inches marks: blue meissen underglaze crossed sword mark 1924-1934 / incised lines model number 194 / former's number 50 bibliography: - thomas & sabine bergmann, meissener figuren, erlangen germany 2017, model numbers 1 - 3000, catalogue number 1086 on page 50. - ulrich pietsch, die figürliche meißener porzellanplastik von gottlieb kirchner und johann joachim kändler, catalogue of the porcelain collection staatliche kunstsammlungen dresden, hirmer verlag munich 2006, page 10, catalogue number 1. Condition: very good. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution less