Centrepiece "Triumph of Venus" by Meissen In a seashell chariot pulled by two expressively modelled, fully sculpted hippocampi, the goddess Venus is seated in a purple-coloured, florally decorated cloak and holding a wreath of flowers. Cupid standing beside her with quiver and bow. A pair of beaked doves at the top. Polychrome painting with gold staffage. Designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler. Gilt bronze mount with volute-shaped, partially open-worked frame and bracket-like supports for triumphal chariot and hippocampi. Unw. rest.; total h. 20 cm. L. 44 cm. This extremely rare depiction from mythology refers to the famous swan service created between 1739 and 1741 for the table of Count von Brühl at Pförten Palace, for which he commissioned J. J. Kaendler to develop new moulds. In addition to the swan service, splendid centrepieces and figurative table decorations were created. The expressively depicted hippocampi originate from a confectionery centrepiece. Kaendler created a similar Apollo group as a centrepiece on behalf of August III for the marriage of Princess Maria Joespha to Louis, Dauphin of France. Around the middle of the 18th century, Kaendler also created a series of at least four so-called chariots of the gods, which are reminiscent of this version of Venus, among others. See Berling, Meissner Porzellan im Schlosse Pförten, in "Die Kunstwelt", 1912/13, pp. 755ff.; fig. 7; Pietsch, Schwanenservice, p. 148, no. 15; see Herzog, Mythologische Kleinplastik, no. 136, plate 70; see Adams, Meissen figures Kaendler period, p. 136; see Andres-Acevedo, Die autonomen figürlichen Plastiken Kaendlers und seiner Werkstatt, vol. 2, pp. 226 and 305. Provenance: from a German private collection. A bronze mounted porcelain group of Venus sitting in a shell-shaped carriage with two sea horses. Insignificantly restored. Meissen. 18th century.