Limited Masterworks Vase Allegories

Ernst August Leuteritz (1818-1893) shaped 19th-century porcelain art during his nearly 40 years as head of the modeling department at MEISSEN^®. He revived the Rococo style and restored the manufactory to its former splendor. Drawing on its rich archive of forms, he developed numerous vase models and service shapes that are now considered MEISSEN^® classics.

The inspiration came from ancient crater vases: two-handled vessels from Greece once used for mixing wine. This new edition, however, is not decorated with scenes from ancient frescoes, but with depictions of children from the 19th century-a reference to the Second Rococo and the flourishing period to which Leuteritz led the Meissen manufactory.

In 1851, Leuteritz designed this magnificent small crater vase, which was later produced in a larger version with mascaron handles for the London World's Fair of 1862. The décor, created exclusively for this edition, combines different stylistic periods with motifs typical of Meissen. Allegorical depictions of children recall the pastoral idylls of the Rococo, while cheerful floral borders in the style of Indian painting reflect another long-standing MEISSEN^® tradition.

Like a frieze, the motifs wind around the vase. The 50-centimeter-long scene and the border decorations, which together span nearly two meters, demand the utmost precision. Meissen artist Elke Janke applies the motifs beneath the handles with the finest brushstrokes, composing a continuous story around the entire piece. Radiant floral vines, allegorical children's motifs, and precious gold ornamentation unite form and décor in perfect harmony, transforming the crater vase into a true showpiece.