Vase "Hunting Scenes", H 61 cm

Lording over nature and taking extravagance to extremes: these were the aristocratic passions that turned hunting into a privilege for the ruling. To celebrate this pastime, splendid palaces and hunting lodges were built and extravagantly furnished to entertain large parties of guests. After copper engravings by Johann Elias Ridinger, these scenes, in all their abundance, were captured on precious mantelpiece vases made especially for the Saxon hunting palace Hubertusburg. Four of the few remaining pieces are in Dresden, three, owned by Count Potocki, are in the Royal Palace in Warsaw, and two are held privately in the United States. The hunting scenes demonstrate the mastery of Meissen’s artists. This work of art is crowned by a sculpted hunting figure with a dog on the lid, also modelled by master artists. To celebrate its anniversary, Meissen is going to produce a limited edition of ten more copies of this vase.