On a nature-themed pedestal with relief-decorated water lily leaves, surrounded by towering reeds, stands a majestic heron (or grey heron) with long stilt-like legs. The feathers are lightly relief-decorated and the plumage and the details of the eyes and head are depicted in a naturalistic manner. The polychrome painting is accentuated with gold. Possibly by Ernst August Leuteritz, around 1850. Model number Z 57. Hairline crack. Sword mark. Height 57 cm. Leuteritz, who was trained by Ernst Rietschel at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, worked at the Meissen Manufactory from 1843 to 1886. He modeled numerous figures and figure groups, as well as model designs after Johann Joachim Kaendler, while remaining faithful to the original compositions. Among his animal sculptures, he created the so-called "Paduan Rooster" (around 1855) and the "Goat with Young" (around 1853/55), as well as the originally designed figure of the Eurasian bittern. A large early 20th century porcelain figure of a heron modeled by E.A. Leuteritz. Hairline crack. Minor restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Second half of the 19th century.
