Elements of Style
In 1710 — as a result of the work of Frederich Wilhelm Böttger and under the patronage and authority of Elector of Saxony and King of Poland Augustus II (the Strong — so called not for his prowess on the battlefield but rather in the boudoir, for he is reputed to have fathered 354 children) — the first factory for the manufacture of porcelain was founded in Europe by royal decree. It was housed in a laboratory, but a short time later moved to Wettiner Castle, near Meissen.
Dresden sculptor Johann Gottlieb Kirchner joined Meissen in 1727, and four years later another Dresden sculptor, Johann Joachim Kändler, was engaged by the factory. Following the death of Augustus in 1733, Heinrich, Count von Brühl, took over control of the factory. The von Brühl family were enthusiastic Pug owners, the breed at this time being fashionable with the nobility. It was Count Heinrich and Kändler who jointly were responsible for the great tradition of Meissen Pugs, starting a trend for Pugs being produced by countless factories throughout Europe.
Bow was one of the first factories to manufacture porcelain in England. Founded circa 1747, it was situated in Bow in the East End of London and had a short life, closing in 1776. Its designs imitated imported Chinese and Japanese porcelains, and from about 1753 Meissen figures were copied.
The rare figure of a white Pug wearing a collar, sitting on a cushion with incised decoration and scratching its ear, was made by Bow circa 1750/55. A direct copy of one made by Meissen circa 1740 — but lacking the quality — it was sold by Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood for £1,200.
A stirrup cup was originally a “parting cup” given to guests when they were leaving and had their feet in the stirrups. It became the traditional drink served at the meet, prior to a traditional foxhunt — “gives him spirit for the chase.” Usually made of silver or china, the “cups” are frequently in the form of a fox’s or hound’s head.
The early-19th-Century Derby porcelain cup in the form of a lemon-and-white hound’s head is with John Howard Antiques. Derby porcelain dates from the second half of the 18th Century and is known for its exceptional quality.
The third porcelain piece is from the second year of the 20th Century and made by Royal Worcester, a brand established in Worcester in 1751. It is arguably the premier porcelain factory in Britain and still in production today. The vase and cover sold by Cromwell’s was painted by one of Worcester’s finest artists, C [harles] Baldwyn, and one of only three green examples known.
The three puppies on the front of the 16-inch-tall vase and a single one on the reverse were a very rare and desirable subject, so much so that a serious U.K. collector had to stretch to £11,500 to own it against a top estimate of £1,500, and two other serious collectors.
Terracotta is a general term used for earthenware. It is clay-based unglazed or glazed non-vitreous ceramic fired at relatively low temperatures. Often it is not as refined as other porcelain ceramics and has a biscuit-type look and feel with a matte finish, as opposed to a shiny one.
Terracotta models of dogs were frequently made in Austria. The lying Mastiff with a leather-look collar and glass eyes made circa 1900 is a fine example, and is with Jackson Antiques.
Clovis-Edmond Masson was born in Paris in 1838, a member of the French animalier school. He was a pupil of, among others, Antoine-Louis Barye, the earliest and most famous sculptor of the French animalier school. Masson’s work is often playful and inventive, as seen in the gilded bronze model of a Terrier watching over a rabbit beneath the rock it is standing on, waiting for it to bolt.
Evgeny Alexandrovitch Lanceray was a Russian sculptor born in 1848 and from a prominent artistic family of French origin that included architects, painters and composers. A close relative was the mother of Sir Peter Ustinov, British actor, filmmaker and writer.
Russian sculptors are known for their monumental hunting groups, and the one by Lanceray of a Cossack, whipper-in and three Borzois on a naturalistic oval base is so typical.
Black Forest carvings are one of the areas of the art world that I feature most frequently. The quality varies enormously, from the cheapest of cheap tourist models of St. Bernards with puppies attached by chains that can be bought for a few dollars, to pieces that were exhibited at the great exhibitions of the 19th Century in Paris, London, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Universally referred to as “Black Forest,” virtually all these carvings were done in Switzerland. The tradition goes back to 1816, when a man named Christian Fischer hit upon the idea of making simple wooden objects specifically for tourists, which he sold by the Giessbach Falls, an attraction close to Brienz. By the end of the century, it had become the main industry for Brienz and neighboring towns and villages, with an estimated 2,000 carvers working in the area.
By the middle years of the century, what had started out simply as “folk art” had been developed by some of the more skilled carvers into art of great merit, with the standard of carving being exceptional. Queen Victoria was among the tourists who purchased some of the better pieces.
Carvings of St. Bernards are the most popular, the breed of course having a long tradition with Switzerland and the monastery. The dog lying down circa 1900 (above) and the group of a bitch with a collar and lead attached surrounded by her three puppies circa 1890 (below) fit into the “exceptional quality” category and are with Jackson Antiques.
