A rare pair of Meissen Continent groups c.1745

A rare pair of Meissen Continent groups c.1745, of Africa and Europe, modelled by Eberlein and Reinicke after Kändler, the former personified as a negress seated on the back of a recumbent lion, wearing an elephant headdress and holding a sheaf of corn in her left hand, draped in a white jewelled robe with brightly coloured feather adornments, Europe seated on a bench before a white horse, holding a sceptre aloft, a globe and attributes representing the arts by her feet, the low bases applied with flowers and leaves, Europe with a faint blue crossed swords mark beneath, 32cm max. (2)

Copies of Kändler's original models were frequently made (of smaller stature than these) throughout the 19th century, but the 18th century examples are seldom seen. Kändler's original figures were again slightly smaller than these impressive groups.