Parrot (one of a pair)
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Height: 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
German, Meissen
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1973
Accession Number
1974.356.377
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful porcelain parrot, modeled by Johann Joachim Känd for the renowned Meissen Manufactory around 1741, captures the exuberance of the Rococo era in miniature form. Standing just 5½ inches tall, it is one of a pair showcasing Kändler's mastery as Meissen's chief sculptor from 1731 onward. Meissen, founded in 1710 near Dresden, Germany, achieved a European breakthrough by perfecting hard-paste porcelain durable, translucent material rivaling prized Chinese imports, fired at high temperatures for its signature white body and glassy sheen. Kändler's naturalistic yet whimsical animal f...