Pair of splendid Meissen figurine groups Sultan and Sultana on elephant as counterparts. Standing, brown-grey mottled elephant with raised trunk. The sultana (or Persian woman) is seated on his back above a broad, ornamented saddlecloth with gold tassels, wearing a splendid pink robe over white, flowered pluderhose, an elaborate headdress and precious jewellery. Holding a sceptre in her right hand and a fan in her left. The counterpart is a seated sultan (or Persian) in oriental, floral-patterned robes with a blue cloak and elegant turban, holding a sceptre in his right hand. A Moor with tools sitting on the head of the elephant. Polychrome painting with rich gold decoration. Designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler and Peter Reinicke. Model no. 67019 and 67020, minimal rest. in places; crossed swords mark. 28 cm x 10 cm x 26.5 cm Archival records from the period between 1741 and 1749 mention "elephants with a decorated ceiling overhanging, embossed in a throne" in connection with J. J. Kaendler and P. Reinicke. In the 1740s, Meissen porcelain sculpture became increasingly interested in the cultures of other countries and continents. This new orientation was translated into porcelain by J. J. Kaendler in collaboration with P. Reinicke and moulded in different variations. The "Sultan (Persian) on an Elephant" was created as a counterpart to the Sultana, in a modified version also with a rhinoceros and without a Moor. Cf. Rückert, cat. Bayer. Nationalmuseum p. 263, figs. 1060 and 1061; cat. Röbbig Munich, Hidden valuables, no. 107; Kunze-Köllensperger, Burda Collection, no. 41. A pair of splendid figure groups of "Sultan on elephant" and "Persian woman on elephant" modelled by J. J. Kaendler and P. Reinicke. Counterparts. Partly minor restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. After 1973.