Art Nouveau Group The Air by Paul Helmemig for Messen, Germany, 1900s

Very rare and excellent Meissen porcelain group around 1900: Juno, the Roman goddess of the air (Greek Hera), as a young woman with her hair pinned up, covered only with a cloth, sitting on a cloud, adorning herself with bracelets, next to her attribute, the peacock as a bird of paradise and symbol of heaven, surrounded by three Putti: one at her feet, handing her a string of pearls, the second hovering above her on a pillar of cloud, holding out a hand mirror, the third beside her with a cornucopia of flowers, handing her a blossom. The group is based on an elongated cloud base with colored floral decoration and green and gold-highlighted feather leaves and rocailles. Designer: PAUL HELMIG (1859 – 1939) The sculptor and modeller studied at the arts and crafts school in Dresden (Germany) and worked for the Meissen manufactory from 1872 to 1925. Helmig specialized in the design of groups of figures, clock cases and vessels with figures both in the Rococo style and, later, in the Art Nouveau style. Model O 199 was created in the year 1892. Manufactory: Meissen Germany Dating: made circa 1900 Material: white porcelain, glossy finish Technique: handmade and finest hand painting Size: height: 22.0 cm / 8.66 inches width: 24.5 cm / 9.64 inches depth: 14.0 cm / 5.51 inches Marks: Blue Meissen underglaze crossed sword mark first quality model number O 199 former’s number 131 Bibliography: Thomas & Sabine Bergmann, Meissen Artist Figures, Model Numbers A 100 – Z 300, Erlangen Germany 2010, catalog number 333, on page 178. Condition: excellent