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These videos of Kirchner's Lions were taken whilst they were on preview at Christies New York prior to their sale at Christies in their sale of British and Continental Ceramics in London on the 18th December 2006.  Two of the videos clearly show the detail of their base and construction.

The estimate and description of the lot was as follows.

Outstanding Meissen collection includes two white porcelain models of a lion and lioness (estimate: £3,000,000-5,000,000)

Although the description reads the two white porcelain models of a Lion and Lioness they are a pair. The Lions sold just below the bottom estimate. 

Another of these outstanding models to be sold was; A group of, a white model of a fox and hen Not shown(estimate: £200,000-300,000). Both lots were commissioned for the Japanese Palace in Dresden. 

Although the price realised for the Lions may appear dissapointing when compared to the estimate it must be pointed out there was much damage and some replacement parts to the Lions.

More Info

The videos are very important in the study of early Meissen as they clearly illustrate the models construction. During the third decade of the 18th century, the modelers Kaendler and Kirchner attempted to model life size models of animals and birds. Although their attempts may be seen as frugal it must be pointed out that these two modelers were experimenting for their very first time the modeling of very large pieces. Any close inspection of these very rare and majestic models can be see firing cracks that occurred whilst in their firing and must have been for them, their ultimate nightmare.

Although a menagerie  of some  600 models  were produced for the Japanese  Palace (Today the majority of  models can be found at the Zwinger in Dresden). The remaining models represent a handful when compared to the collection at the Zwinger found their way  into other collections and  museums when over a period of time, funds were needed and the Palace sold them off. See Meissen Blog for more info