Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
Each group features two putti representing the Four Seasons. Spring is depicted as a child holding a garland of flowers, while Summer carries a sheaf of wheat. Autumn is identified by a bunch of grapes and a basket of fruit. Winter is shown clad in a thick, fur-trimmed cloak, warming himself at a brazier—a traditional iconographic representation of the cold season.
Rising from the center of each composition is an elegant Medici vase on a pedestal foot, embellished with relief acanthus leaves and a sinuous snake applied to the body.
The groups rest on elegant *rocaille* bases made of finely chased, mercury-gilded bronze.
Excellent state of preservation.
The blue crossed-swords mark appears on the back of the vases.
Porcelain figures by the Meissen manufactory; model created by Johann Joachim Kändler (1706–1775) circa 1750–1755.
Bronze mounts crafted in Paris during the reign of Louis XV (circa 1760) to the order of a *marchand-mercier* (luxury goods dealer).
Dimensions:
Height: 15 cm; Width: 20 cm; Depth: 10 cm
Bibliography:
Thomas & Sabine Bergmann, *Meissen-Figures*, page 405.
Similar models:
- Four similar figures, Sotheby’s London sale, May 23, 2012, lot 13.
- A pair of groups in the same spirit—likely sourced from the same *marchand-mercier*—featuring *chinoiserie* subjects and small vases on similar mounts, was sold in Paris at Christie’s "The Exceptional Sale," lot 13.
Our assessment:
Meissen porcelain pieces based on models by Johann Joachim Kändler, enhanced with French mounts, rank among the most refined achievements of the decorative arts during the reign of Louis XV. They perfectly illustrate the dialogue between the genius of Saxon modelers and the craftsmanship of Parisian bronze-makers, who knew how to elevate these precious porcelains by incorporating them into creations destined for the wealthiest connoisseurs of their time.
The pair we present here is of exceptional interest for having remained intact. The "Four Seasons" figures belong to the same series and have stayed together since their creation—a particularly rare occurrence. While Kändler’s figures are highly sought after individually, it is uncommon to encounter the complete set of four seasons, and even more exceptional to find them preserved with their original mounts.
The inherent fragility of these compositions partly explains their rarity. Sheaves of wheat, floral garlands, grape clusters, and other projecting elements are particularly prone to damage; consequently, finding a set that is both complete and so well-preserved after more than two and a half centuries is truly exceptional.
The gilt-bronze bases combine dynamic design with exquisitely fine chasing. The *rocaille* vocabulary is present in the asymmetrical scrolls and spirited curves, yet here it appears notably restrained and disciplined. This elegant restraint already heralds the shift in taste occurring in the late 1750s and foreshadows the return to more orderly forms, allowing us to date them to the 1755–1760 period, consistent with porcelain of that time.
