A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry - image-1
A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry - image-2
A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry - image-1A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry - image-2

Lot 50 Dα

A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry

Auction 1150 - overview Berlin
16.05.2020, 11:00 - Vienna Porcelain from a Private Collection
Estimate: 2.000 € - 3.000 €
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A Vienna porcelain model of two putti as an allegory of poetry

A large figural group depicting putti as allegories of poetry (Erato) and theatre (Thalia) or possibly of truth on a tall rocaille base with a crooked tree bearing yellow fruit. Blue bindenschild mark, 24 in red. A filled crack to the base. H 32.5 cm.
Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, circa 1755 - 60, decor attributed to Konrad Hab.

The open book is inscribed with a quotation from Ovid: "Os homini sublime dedit coelumque tueri" (to man, the gods gave an upward countenance to survey the heavens, and to look upwards to the stars). The scroll, located slightly below, reads: "quidquid agis, prudenter agas" (whatever you do, do it wisely), which is thought to originate from one of Aesop's fables. The nuanced nature of 18th century allegory also allows for an interpretation of the child with the mask shown pointing towards his eye as an allegory of truth.

Provenance

Private collection, Palatinate, acquired from Herbert Asenbaum in Vienna in 1970.

Literature

Cf. also Ahrens, Sammlung Faltus. Wiener Porzellanfiguren des Rokoko, Vienna 2017, p. 136 f, inv. no. 254 and 324, two groups depicting putti as allegories of sculpture and painting of similarly expressive design.