The 'Mathei Ceres': C.3169-1928

Current Location: In storage

Titles

The 'Mathei Ceres'

Maker(s)

Factory: Meissen Porcelain Factory

Entities

Figure

Description

Hard-paste porcelain figure after the antique marble 'Mathei Ceres'

Hard-paste biscuit porcelain, moulded. The figure stands on a square, straight-sided base, with a flange round the underside of the edge, and a large, roughly triangular ventilation hole which leads into the figure which is hollow. Ceres stands on her right leg with the left relaxed at the knee. Her right hand rests on her right hip and in her left she holds a small bunch of corn and a poppy head. She wears a long dress with a cloak, the right end of which is draped across in front of her body and falls down over her left arm.

Notes

History note: Purchased by Col. and Mrs W.D. Dickson at a sale at Godden Chetwynds at Ferndean some 10 miles from Bournemouth on 17 November 1917; given by them to Dr Glaisher on Christmas Day, 1917.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 27 cm

Place(s) associated

Meissen ⪼ Saxony ⪼ Germany

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

Marcolini period (1774-1814)
18th Century, Late
Circa 1790 CE - 1800 CE

Note

The source for this model was the antique marble, 1.065m high in the Galleria dei Candelabri in the Vatican Museums. The marble belonged to the Mattei family prior to its sale by Don Giuseppe Mattei to Pope Clement XIV in 1770. Until then it was not among the best-inown examples of classical sculpture, but thereafter gradually gained esteem, particularly for its drapery. The excellent moulding properties of Meissen biscuit porcelain enabled these to be rendered with great precision. During the Marcolini Period (1774-1814) Meissen issued large numbers of biscuit figures after antique sculpture, modelled by J.C. Scönheit, J.D. Schöne, C.J. Jüchster, and J.G. Matthai. The number H55 on this figure indicates that it was modelled between 1783 and 1787.