Rare large Meissen figurine "Heron". A heron (or grey heron) with long stilt legs standing between towering reeds on a natural base decorated in relief with water lily leaves. Plumage in light relief with naturalistically painted plumage and eye and head sections. Polychrome painting with gold accents. Designed by Ernst August Leuteritz, c. 1850, model no. Z 57, hairline crack. Remainder; crossed swords mark. H. 55 cm. Leuteritz worked at the Meissen manufactory from 1843 - 1886. Among numerous figures and figure groups, he also modelled designs after Johann Joachim Kaendler, remaining largely faithful to the original in his compositions. Among the animal sculptures, he modelled the so-called "Paduaner Hahn" (around 1855) and the "Ziege mit Jungen" (around 1853/55), as well as the figure of the bittern, originally designed by Kaendler in 1750, in a modified form. A rare large porcelain figure of a heron modelled by E. A. Leuteritz. Hairline crack. Restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. 2nd half 19th cent.