Rare monumental figurine "Bird of Paradise". A bird of paradise with brightly coloured plumage and long tail feathers reaching down to the base, sitting on a gnarled branch base with vines and blue grapes. Richly coloured, polychrome overglaze painting. Designed by Arthur Storch. Artist's monogr. "ASt."; Minim. rest./best.; manufacturer's mark. H. 71.5 cm. The model was created in connection with the famous group of 16 monumental animal sculptures by the modellers Hugo Meisel and Arthur Storch, with which the Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur caused a sensation in 1921 when, under the direction of the architect Hans Poelzig, it was significantly involved in the design of the "Porzellan-Palais" in Leipzig, which was used for the first time as an exhibition centre. Due to their extraordinary size, their production posed a particular technical challenge. Even today, these are considered masterpieces of "artistic and technical craftsmanship". They were only produced in small series of an estimated 10 moulds per model. Cf. 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. Provenance: from the estate of an important North German private collection. A rare monumental Thuringian porcelain figure of a bird-of-paradise modelled by A. Storch. Minor restored/chipped. Manufacturer's mark. Thuringia. Volkstedt-Rudolstadt. Oldest Volkstedt porcelain factory. 1920s.