A PAIR OF MEISSEN FIGURES OF SWANS, CIRCA 1750

Christie's New York, 23 April, 1998, lot 221

Swans of this type, 'Cygnus olor', or mute swan, were made in varying sizes, of which the present pair is the second largest. The models are first mentioned in Kändler's records in November 1747, produced with the assistance of Peter Reinicke and were probably not completed until 1748. Meissen Swans were popular with the French aristocracy and as such provided a lucrative business for the luxury retailers of Paris often being mounted in gilt-bronze. The marchand-mercier Lazare-Duvaux lists 'Cygnes' and 'Cygnes de Saxe' twelve times in his Livre-Journal, the first featuring in February 1749.

A pair with gilt-bronze mounts was sold at Replica Shoes 's London, 24 October, 2016, lot 12, formerly, The Estate of Sarah Jane Pansa, sold, Replica Shoes Park Bernet, Inc., New York, 8 November, 1985, lot 144. A pair mounted in gilt-bronze as candelabra, Property from the Collections of Lily & Edmond J. Safra, Vol. I-VI, was sold in these rooms, 18-21 October, 2001, lot 763 ($302,500)

Sotheby's Scientific Research department used noninvasive XRF for this lot to screen the green enamel for chromium, which was not detected.