Meissen, ca. 1733.

With three elephant heads as the foot, the shaft modelled as a winged dragon. Underglaze blue sword mark. Collection label with Inv. No. 3.

H 26.5 cm.

Restored.

Provenance:
- Collection Joseph Epstein, Berlin.

Literature:
- Siegfried Ducret, Deutsches Porzellan, 1962, p. 119, No. 36.
- Rainer Rückert, Meissener Porzellan, 1966, p. 144 (cited as a comparable item in No. 712).

Exhibition:
Berlin 1904, Europäisches Porzellan des 18. Jahrhundert, 15.2.–30.4.1904 im Kgl. Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, Cat. No. 308.

According to Rückert, in his work reports of June 1733, Kändler had described a candelabrum - which corresponds to our model - as follows: "1 Leuchter poussirt, dessen Postament bestehet in 3 Elephantenköpfen, die Rüssel sind anstatt der Beine. Oben auf dem Postament befindet sich ein Drache, welcher sich um einen Ast windet, speyet Feuer aus und hält die Tülle im Rachen" (Rückert 1966, p.144, No. 712).

As an inspiration for the design of the elephant heads, the model-maker probably used the elephant heads on the handle of a Meissen "Vogelbauer" vase from 1727 as a model, i.e. a copy of a Japanese vase from 1700, both of which are in the Dresden State Collections (Inv. No. P.O. 5181, Inv. No. P.E. 3715).