Exclusive Collection Elements vase, Fire and War

Fire, Water, Earth, Air - MEISSEN captures the elements. Allegorical depictions of the elements were much beloved in the 18th century. Personified as gods, illustrated through creatures and artefacts, the natural powers were animated and became human and superhuman, just as people knew them from their everyday experience. Kings and princes liked to see themselves in the role of rulers of the elements, or at least as those on whom the elements look favourably. This is what the Saxon Elector Friedrich August II had in mind when he commissioned Meissen's master modeller Johann Joachim Kaendler in 1741 to design a set of large vases with depictions of the four elements. The grand vases fire, water, earth and air were presented to the French King Louis XV in recognition of his good dynastic relations to the Saxon electoral house. Thus Kaendler's art fulfilled a political-diplomatic function in the highest circles. And it shows: all the sculptural details are in perfect harmony, the flatter relief pictures are united with the figurines into scenic panoramas showing the elements in both their useful and destructive aspects. Apart from their neck at the centre, you will find nothing about these vases that is "merely" functional.

The garniture originally comprised 5 vases; the one in the middle was 33 inches high, the tallest of any vase produced in the 18th century, and was adorned with a portrait of Louis Quinze. It was flanked by 2 covered vases - Fire and Earth. The two remaining elements, Air and Water, stood to either side and were modelled as ewers. Later on, Fire and Earth were likewise designed in this way.

Kaendler describes his "Fire" vase in a work report as follows:

"Fire surmounted by Jupiter with his lightning, Mars the God of War with copious military trappings and trophies in the midst of a battle in shallow relief."