Meissen Busts

[ghopper1924]

I need to prevail upon your expertise:

What I know about these busts:

Probably purchased on a trip to Europe in 1924

Heavily glazed in a manner consistent with that date (from what I've read...)

Blue crossed swords consistent with 1920s date

About 11-12 inches tall

Worth about......

Does all this sound right?

Please let me know if you have any more info......THANKS!!!!!!!

[mart]

Mmm,, I don`t know Ghopper !!  These look very tame and plain for Meissen !!  They did make some bisque figures but have not seen anything similar to these !!  These look like they could have been made by any run of the mill pottery other than the mark !!  What I mean is there is nothing outstanding about them !!  When I think of Meissen I think of opulence and quality !!  Of course I may have missed something !!

[cogar]

I think it is interesting that they are a “matched” pair, meaning 2 different molds and were thus surely made to be displayed together, say at either end of a mantle or shelf.

And were made in pure “white” (undecorated) simply to “frame” or draw (point) one’s attention to what was being displayed in between the two, …… such as a trophy, religious icon, portrait, etc.

It’s a natural reaction that one’s eyes will look in the direction the “arrow” is pointing, …. but in this case, … one will look in the direction the “females” are looking.

[ghopper1924]

Thanks for the input. Yes, Cogar, you are quite right. They are matched - but not identical - and they do draw the viewer's gaze in a particular direction, i.e. whatever is in between them.

I know Meissen did make white bisque busts. These are very detailed, and I forgot to mention HEAVY, maybe 4-5 lbs. apiece.

Assuming that they are "real," any ideas on value? The white Meissen busts on E-Bay and the rest of the internet tend to be much smaller but pretty highly valued.

[Ipcress]

Any mark on their ' backs ' ?

[mart]

At that weight could they have been bookends ??  If so the ladies would have faced forward sort of "over the shoulder" !!

[ghopper1924]

No discernable marks on their "backs."

Their heads and necks are completely modeled in 3D complete with hair, and there's an arch on the back that goes up behind their shoulders. The bookend theory is a good one, but there are no flat surfaces to rest against the books.

I think Cogar is spot on about them being at each end of a mantle, looking at what is in between.

[cogar]

Now I thought of "bookends" but decided they were too "top-heavy" for their bases.

With bookends, you want them to "slide" on their base when adding or removing a book.

[ghopper1924]

The Backs

[mart]

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/a-meissen-bust-of-a-girl-early-5401229-details.aspx

Here is a Meissen bust from about the same period !!  It is marked and numbered !!  Still haven`t found any like these !!  Looking !!

[Ipcress]

They might simply be Dresden. They don't have the delicacy, detail of the Meissen busts I've seen. The hands appear too moulded.

I would contact Meissen and ask - the curators will probably know.

[ghopper1924]

Thanks to Ipcress' suggestion, I wrote Meissen themselves. The news was even better than I'd hoped (see below)!!

"Dear Mr. M*****,
 
thank you very much for your inquiry.
 
Judging after the pictures there is no reason to assume, that your busts are not products of our manufactory. Judging after the swordsmarks they were built in the second half of the 19th century, maybe earlier. These busts could have been purchased in Dresden, probably at an antique dealer. I think it unlikely that they were purchased in one of our stores in 1926.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Dr. Peter Braun
Archivist / Conductor Historical Collections"

NOW.......would anyone like to put a value on them?

[Ipcress]

Great news, Ghopper !

Those pics must be a bit blurry because they obviously don't do the busts justice - the archivist will have recognised certain aspects, the bases probably being one key factor.

Makes them more valuable, as does that nice bit of ' provenance ' from their museum.

[mart]

I wouldn`t even guess at value !!  Out of my area !!

[KC]

CONGRATULATIONS!

Now, to find an expert appraiser!