Description
18th Century Rudolstadt Volkstedt Napoleonic Horse figure. I guarantee this
figure to be 200+ years old. If it is actually a depiction of Napoleon's horse
then it would be early 19th century, but I believe it be from the last decade of
the 18th century. 5 7/8" tall x 6.5" long, with a very old professional
restoration that is now flaking off on the mid to upper body of the horse.
Volkstedt Porcelain - History
In September 1760, Georg Heinrich Macheleid (1723-1801) made a request to Prince
Johann Friedrich, Fürst von Schwartzburg-Rudolstadt to establish a porcelain
factory in Sitzendorf, Thuringia, Germany. Macheleid previously worked at a
glass factory in Glücksthal. Independent of the ceramicists at Meissen,
Macheleid conducted his own research into creating a hard paste porcelain.
Prince Johann Friedrich granted Macheleid’s request in 1762 with the stipulation
that the plant be located near his court in Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. Macheleid
established the Aelteste Volkstedter Porzellanfabrik (Oldest Volkstedt Porcelain
Factory) in Volstedt which became part of Rudolstadt in 1923. Macheleid created
a self-sustaining village for his workers.
In 1767, Macheleid left. The factory came under the control of the prince, his
wife, his son, and five other investors. They leased the factory to Christian
Nome from Erfurt. During the latter half of the eighteenth century, Volksted
gained a reputation for its well modeled and painted figurines, rivaling those
of Meissen. In 1793, Prince Johann Friedrich purchased all outstanding shares.
In 1797, Prince Ludwig Friedrich, Johann’s successor, sold the factory to his
brother-in-law Ernest Constantine, Landgrave of Hesse-Philippstahl, who sold it
to Wilhelm Greiner and Carl Holzapfel several years later. Nome left around
1800.
isshelf
