Exclusive Collection Vase Four Elements Earth and Hunting

Fire, Water, Earth, Air - MEISSEN^® captures the elements. Allegorical depictions of the elements were much beloved in the 18th century. Personified as gods, illustrated through creatures and artefacts, the natural powers were animated and became human and superhuman, just as people knew them from their everyday experience. Kings and princes liked to see themselves in the role of rulers of the elements, or at least as those on whom the elements look favourably. This is what the Saxon Elector Frederick Augustus II had in mind in 1741 when he commissioned Meissen's master modeller Johann Joachim Kaendler to design a set of large vases with depictions of the four elements. The grand vases fire, water, earth and air were presented to the French King Louis Quinze in recognition of his good dynastic relations to the Saxon electoral house. Thus Kaendler's art fulfilled a diplomatic function of the highest order. And it shows: all the sculptural details are in perfect harmony, the flatter relief pictures are united with the figurines into scenic panoramas showing the elements in both their useful and destructive aspects. Apart from their neck at the centre, you will find nothing about these vases that is "merely" functional.

The garniture originally comprised 5 vases; the one in the middle was 33 inches high, the tallest of any vase produced in the 18th century, and was adorned with a portrait of Louis Quinze. It was flanked by 2 covered vases - Fire and Earth. The two remaining elements, Air and Water, stood to either side and were modelled as ewers. Later on, Fire and Earth were likewise designed in this way.

Kaendler describes his "Earth" vase in a work report as follows: "The Earth, upon it a stag and a roe-deer, and at the top is to be found the goddess Diana, goddess of the forests, all surrounded by several trees or woodland as well as by hounds