Allegorical The Water Group by M.V. Acier for Meissen Porcelain, Germany, 1860s

Excellent Meissen porcelain group of the 19th century: Nymph, covered only with a cloth, seated on a half shell floating on the water, holding the cloth at one end so that it forms a wavy noose over her body, accompanied by three sirens, two girls and a boy blowing a conch shell, and by a putto seated on a dolphin and holding a spade. Numerous plastically formed shells decorate the scenery. The group is based on a water-taming earth base with a gold rim. Designer: Michael Victor Acier (1736 Versailles – 1799 Dresden) Trained as a sculptor in Paris, he received a call to the porcelain factory in Meissen in 1762: he created a large number of groups in the Watteau style. In 1780 Acier came to Dresden as a royal Saxon model master. Design of model D 81 in 1772. Manufactory: Meissen Germany Dating: made ca. 1860 Material: white porcelain, glossy finish Technique: handmade and finest hand painting Size: Height: 23.0 cm / 9.05 inches Width: 30.0 cm / 11.81 inches Depth: 22.0 cm / 8.66 inches Marks: Blue Meissen underglaze crossed sword mark circa 1860, ‘Pommels on hilts’ first quality model number D 81 former’s number 72 Bibliography: Thomas & Sabine Bergmann, Meissen – Figures, Model Numbers A 1 – Z 99, Erlangen Germany 2014, catalog number 254, on page 129. Condition: very good.