A LARGE MEISSEN PORCELAIN FIGURE OF A HUNTSMAN OR PIQUEUR

The present subject is based on a pair of 18th century sandstone sculptures of hunters by Johann Christian Kirchner that flanked the entrance of Schloss Mortizburg in Saxony. In 1937 plaster molds were made of both sculptures by Käthe Scheurich, wife of the noted modeler Professor Paul Scheurich, though it would seem only one of the two models was ever produced in porcelain. Factory records indicate that only three of this Piqueur model were made in total, of which only the present example appears to survive. See J. Rafael, 'Paul Scheurich 1883-1945 Porzellane für die Meissener Manufaktur', Meissener Manuskripte, Sonderband VIII, pp. 145f for further information regarding this rare figure.