Unique, monumental stag fountain for the "Porzellan-Palais" at the Leipzig Spring Fair 1921 20 pieces; unmounted. White porcelain. On three sides a stepped, two-tiered arrangement of flat moulded basins with beak-shaped spouts over three large basins, vertically divided by curved leafy bars with partially removable cachepots. Central ascending, oval column shaft with four curved, leaf-shaped spouts and a capital-like finial. Crowned by the majestic figure of a standing stag above a tree support on a moulded oval base. The antler crown is removable. Circumferential design of heavily relief-sculpted foliage. Designed by Hugo Meisel. Signed monogram "HM" with date (19)21. Partially rest.; Minimally dam.; Underglaze blue manufacturer's mark. Total fountain h. approx. 260 cm. Approx. 158 x 115 cm. Figure h. 105 cm (with antlers). This imposing fountain was part of the sensational interior design of the so-called "Porzellan-Palais", which opened for the spring fair in Leipzig on 6 March 1921 and was highly praised by the press. No further realisation of this fountain is known. The modellers Hugo Meisel (1887 - 1966) and Arthur Voigt (1870-1947), who also produced a total of 16 animal sculptures of enormous size, were significantly involved in the design under the direction of Prof. Hans Poelzig. In addition, the architects Hans Poelzig and Gustav Partz, in collaboration with Marlene Moeschke, designed electrified floor, ceiling and wall chandeliers as well as porcelain consoles, some of which were up to 250 cm high. These exhibits, produced in the Volkstedt porcelain manufactory, caused a great stir among the public, who marvelled at "the lighting fixtures in their diversity and fascinating lighting effect" as well as the "strangely grotesque" and pathetically expressive, excessively large animal figures. The production posed a particular technical challenge that required extensive technical experience. Even today, they epitomise technical and artistic mastery. The majority of the pieces were left in white, while some were painted in brightly accentuated colours. Cf. Schöne, in Porzellanland Thüringen, pp. 243ff.; Cat. Schwarzburger Werkstätten, p. 272 ff.; Fritzsche, Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur, p. 211f.; Zimmermann, in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, vol. 49, 1921 - 1922, p. 46ff.; Porzellanland Thüringen, p. 243ff, Kt. Grassi-Museum, Jugendstil, p. 58. Provenance: from the estate of an important North German private collection. A rare monumental 260-centimetre-high multi-piece porcelain fountain crowned by a large figure of a stag for the Leipzig Spring Trade fair 1921.Monogrammed and dated. Partly restored. Minor chipped. Underglaze-blue manufacturer's mark. Thuringia. Volkstedt-Rudolstadt. Oldest Volkstedt porcelain manufactory. Circa 1921.