A very rare porcelain inkstand depicting the Italian greyhound Lisette, the favorite dog of Empress Catherine II, reclining on a luxurious silk pillow. The figure is conveyed with touching authenticity: the dog lies, tightly pressed to the pillow, creating a cozy composition in which two porcelain inkwells are built in. The pillow is richly decorated with floral motifs, gold curls and tassels in the corners. The original model was created in 1766 by the sculptor Johann Joachim Kaendler at the Meissen manufactory by personal order of Catherine II, who sent a drawing of her favorite dog to Saxony. Kaendler&39;s report stated: "Modeled a large dog from a drawing sent from Moscow... The pillow, 21 inches long, is embroidered in gold and decorated with tassels at the four corners." Lisette&39;s image was widely disseminated: it appeared on a snuffbox by Johan Scharff (now in the Hermitage collection) and was reproduced by various porcelain manufactories, including Jacob Petit. The French version from the late 1830s–1840s is distinguished by its particularly picturesque and vivid decorative interpretation. Hallmark: letter JP — mark of the Jacob Petit porcelain manufactory, France, circa 1840. Materials: polychrome porcelain, hand painting, gilding. Origin of the model: Sotheby&39;s auction, 2002. Historical model: Meissen, 1766, sculptor I. I. Kendler. Condition: excellent, collectible, with a museum level of execution.
Material:
Porcelain, Hand Painted
