LARGE PORCELAIN FIGURINE OF A PELICAN EATING A CARP.
Meissen. 1977. Model J.J. Kaendler. Moulding 1977.

Porcelain; white. Life size figure of a pelican devouring a fish. The animal's posture suggests that it is portrayed floating on the water. Height 73cm; length 78cm.
Swords mark with 4 grinds; mark for white porcelain; 76006; porcelain former's no. 149; year mark for 1977. Condition C.

Provenance:
Hessian private collection.

Literature:
-Sponsel; Jean Louis: Kabinettst點ke der Meissner Porzellanmanufaktur von Johann Joachim
Kaendler; Leipzig 1900; p.65/96.
-Sponsel; p. 96: Reference to: Merian; Matth鋟s: In- und ausl鋘dische nach dem Leben
gemalte V鰃el; verfertiget zu Frankfurth am Main von Matthia Merian ao. 1659.
-Pietsch; Ulrich: Mei遪er Porzellanplastik von Gottlieb Kirchner und Johann Joachim
Kaendler; Munich 2006; cf. p.150; cat. no.221.

The pelican is a prime example for Kaendler's method. While trying to devour a fish; the
large bird has tilted its head far back. The neck is curved in a dynamic movement; the
eyes wide open. Every detail; be it the plumage; the scales of the fish or the structure
of the skin of the throat bag; is carefully studied. Kaendler's depiction of a bird
occupied with its prey; which he used again and again; combines the lifelike depiction of
the animal with the demonstration of the modeller's artistic abilities. In fact; the
existence of a pelican in Dresden's Tiergarten is evidenced by a picture by Matth鋟s
Merian; which is in the Dresden Kupferstichkabinett. The depiction is titled 'a large
pelican as can be seen in the Dresden royal fishgarden 1728'. It is therfore quite
possible that a living example of the exotic bird served Kaendler as a model for his
sculpture.Art trade; Van Ham.