ART 198 - HISTORY OF WORLD CERAMICS

In 1733, Johann Joachim Kändler became chief modeler at Meissen, and supervised this aspect of Meissen production. Prior to the European invention of porcelain, centerpieces of dining tables of wealthy persons were made of sugar or wax and made by bakers or confectioners. The designers at Meissen sensed a market opportunity for more durable centerpieces made of porcelain. Kändler is known for creating figures of animals and birds caught in a moment of action, such as this parrot. The figures were carved with extreme realism showing a close observation of nature. Kändler's work, made during the Age of Enlightenment is indicative of the spirit of the time. This period is known for keen observations of the physical world, from the planets, to the flora and fauna of the new worlds being discovered by explorers, to the discovery of living organisms seen under the microscope. Kändler's gift was his ability to combine detailed observation with dramatic sculptural poses that gives his work its signature bravura. Meissen was only able to hold on to its 'arcanum' for porcelain manufacture for a few decades. By 1740, the French were producing porcelain at Sèvres.

Figure of a Parrot, Meissen Porcelain, modeled by Johann Kändler, Saxony, Germany, 1731 CE