Meissen, models by J. F. Eberlein, P. Reinicke and J. J. Kändler ca. 1745-1747, the definitive shapes from 1745 -1763.

Four groups of female figures as personifications of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Represented as a Queen for Europe, an Orientalist "Turk" for Asia, a Moor with an elephant cap for Africa and an American Indian for America, each with her accompanying animals, i.e. horse, camel, lion and crocodile, respectively. On flat pedestals applied with flowers and leaves. No mark on the unglazed underside of the base (Europe and Africa), underglaze blue sword marks with dot (Asia and America).

H 26.6 cm, 27.5 cm, 2.5 cm and 32 cm. Repairs and hairline cracks.

Provenance:
Swiss private collection.

This series of large figures representing the four continents was commissioned in Meissen in 1745 at the special request of the Russian tsarina, Elisabeth Petrovna (1709-1762), daughter of Peter the Great, who was enthusiastic about porcelain.

In Lustheim Palace in the Ernst Schneider Collection there is a complete large series. The series of the 'medium size' is exhibited in Schloss Jägersdorf in Düsseldorf. A similar model of 'Asia' was also on offer at Christie's Amsterdam, 14/16 February 2006, Lot No. 1236. Illustrations of similar models can be found in Rainer Rückert/Johann Willsberger, Meissen Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts, 1977, Figs. 118/119; A. Schommers, Meissener Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts, Die Stiftung Ernst Schneider in Schloss Lustheim, 2004, pp. 384-391; Ulrich Pietsch, Meissen für die Zaren, 2004, p. 90ff.