Fountain and basin
ca. 1727–32
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain decorated in polychrome enamels, gold; silver spout
Dimensions
Overall (assembled confirmed): 24 1/2 x 18 1/8 x 16 1/2 in. (62.2 x 46 x 41.9 cm); Other (54.147.65 a (fountain)): 13 1/4in. (33.7cm); Other (54.147.65 b (plinth)): 11 5/16 x 10in. (28.7 x 25.4cm); Other (basin confirmed): 3 1/8 x 18 3/8 x 13 5/8 in. (7.9 x 46.7 x 34.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
German, Meissen
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1954
Accession Number
54.147.65a–c
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fountain and Basin* (ca. 172732), crafted by modeler Johann Gottlieb Kirchner at Meissen Manufactory exemplifies the dawn of European porcelain mastery. Meissen, founded in 1710 near Dresden, Germany, was the first to produce true hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material long monopolized by China. Kirchner, renowned for his lively animal sculptures, likely contributed dynamic figures to this whimsical fountain, assembled from porcelain elements with a gleaming silver spout for water flow. The piece dazzles with polychrome enamels in vibrant hues and intricate gilding, techniques that allowed Meissen artists to rival Oriental imports while embracing Baroque opulence. Standing over two feet tall when assembled, it served as a luxurious table centerpiece for Europe's aristocracy, symbolizing wealth and technical prowess during Augustus the Strong's patronage era. Today, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (gift of R. Thornton Wilson, 1954), this rare functional sculpture highlights Meissen's pivotal role in elevating ceramics to high art, blending utility with playful Rococo fantasy. Imagine the gentle trickle of water amid porcelain blooms—a snapshot of 18th-century splendor!
About the Artist
Johann Gottlieb Kirchner|Meissen Manufactory (German|German) · 1710 |1706 –9999 |1738
German, 1710–present|German, Merseburg 1706–after 1738 Berlin, active at Meissen 1727–28 and 1731–33