Allegory of Air figurine

Klášterec, Bohemia, Ernst Popp, 1857

Porcelain, coloured bisque.

H: 19 cm

Markings: “TK 857”, “56” imprints

UMP 7148

Purchased from antique dealer K. Chaura in Prague on 31 December 1923.

“Allegory of Air” from Ernst Popp’s Four Elements series executed in colour bisque.

Collaboration with Ernst Popp, who had been designing figurines for a porcelain maker in Prague since the 1840s, proved very fruitful for the Klösterle manufactory. He started designing figurines for Klösterle from the 1850s (no later than 1854) and reportedly enjoyed two longer stays in the town. It was during this period when he created his Four Seasons and Four Elements series. Both figurine series were very popular and remained in production into the 1860s. During his stays in Klösterle, he designed several more exclusively bisque figures, busts, and religious sculptures.

l Ernst Popp