a large allegorical group in an original period display case, the sea goddess Amphitrite seated in a shell carriage, wearing a crown and carrying a sceptre in the left hand, strings of pearls and pearl bracelet set with gemstones, in the right hand a purple canvas arching over 3 amorettes, holding a laurel wreath, strings of beads, red coral branches, and shells, flanked by 1 mermaid with pearls in her hair, red coral branches in the left hand and dolphin reins in the right hand, in the foreground 1 Nereid, 1 with blue hairband, in the left hand a string of pearls in a shell, 1 with pearls in her hair, wearing a reed garland with shells, followed by Glaucus, Amphitrite's protector, blue-turquoise wave base with dolphins, Triton blowing a shellhorn, with Cupid, shells, snail shell, tortoise, and a Triton boy with a fish in the left hand, porcelain, polychromed and gilt, 3 parts loose and numbered, the base with gilt edging and light purple crossed ribbons, shell and acanthus relief heightened with gilt, turquoise and light purple, height: 48 cm, length: 60 cm, small restoration, display case with red velvet base height: 6,5 cm, width: 35,5 cm, length: 77,5 cm, and fitting glass dome with yellow metal fittings and corners, height: 55 cm, width: 26,5 cm, length: 69,5 cm Meissen, underglaze blue crossed swords, 2nd half 19th cent., model no. 2 on all parts, former no. 95, model by Johann Joachim Kändler 1772–1773 (Ru) “Neptune and Thetis” for Tsarina Catherine II., large allegorical group in original period display case, Neptune, Lord of the Sea, riding a shell carriage, in the left hand his trident, interior a laurel wreath “with which he intends to crown Amphitrite”, accompanied by Nereids with coral and shells, Tritons with shell horns, Thetis appearing behind him, appeasing the waves, guiding the hippocampi, blue and turquoise wave base with dolphins, shells, snail shell, and Triton boy with a fish in the left hand, porcelain, polychromed and gilt, 3 parts loose and numbered, the base with gilt edging and light purple crossed ribbons, shell- and acanthus relief heightened with gilt, turquoise and purple, height: 46,5 cm, length: 64 cm, small restoration, display case with red velvet base height: 6,5 cm, width: 35,5 cm, length: 77,5 cm, and fitted glass dome with yellow metal fittings and corners, height: 55 cm, width: 26,5 cm, length: 69,5 cm, Meissen, underglaze blue crossed swords 2nd half 19th cent., model no. 1 on all parts, model by Johann Joachim Kändler 1773 (Ru)

This allegorical group is part of the “Great Russian Commission” of Tsarina Catherine II, for the Palais Oranienbaum near St. Petersburg.

Lit.: Meissen für die Zaren, Munich 2004, cat. no. 167, ill.40. “Ever since Peter the Great, the Russian Navy was developed into an instrument to project military power which under Catherine the Great (1729–1796) was first successfully employed outside the Baltic in the war against the Ottoman Empire. Hence the first group conceived by Kaendler “Triumphant Sea Goddess Amphitrite" contains references to the Tsarina as ruler of the seas, e.g. in the crown and sceptre worn by Amphitrite, which identifies the goddess with the monarch. Work reports of the Meissen porcelain modeller Johann Joachim Kändler 1706–1775, p 204–205 November and December 1772, p 206 January 1773; Amphitrite was in February 1773 followed by the 'companion piece' Neptune with model no. 1.”

This allegorical group is part of the “Great Russian Commission” of Tsarina Catherine II, for the Palais Oranienbaum near St. Petersburg.

Lit.: Meissen für die Zaren, Munich 2004, cat. no. 168, ill. 41; “
The sea goddess Amphitrite was in February 1773 followed by its 'companion piece' Neptune. As in Amphitrite's case, there are references between the figure of Thetis and the Tsarina. Both are connected to the god of the sea, one through marriage, the other by fate; they are his favourites and hold the reins of events in the water. Work reports of the Meissen porcelain modeller Johann Joachim Kändler 1706- 1775, p 204–205 November and December 1772, p 206 of January 1773; Amphitrite was in February 1773 followed by the 'companion piece' Neptune with model no. 1."