Monumental Fountain with Deer Statue for the "Porcelain Palace" at the Leipzig Spring Fair of 1921

20th century; dismantled. White porcelain. Three-sided, stepped, two-tier arrangement of flat cast bowls with beak-shaped spouts above three large bowls, vertically separated by curved leaf-like steps with partially removable planters. Central ascending oval column with four protruding leaf-shaped spouts and a crown-like top. Topped by a magnificent figure of a standing deer above an arboreal support on a profiled oval pedestal. The antler crown is removable. Surrounding design with strong raised leafy pattern. Possibly designed by Hugo Meisel. Monogram "HM" with the date (19)21. Partially restored; minimal damage. Manufacturer's mark underglaze in blue paint. Total height of the fountain approximately 260 cm. Approx. 158 x 115 cm. Figure height 105 cm (with antlers). This impressive fountain was part of the remarkable spatial design of the so-called "Porcelain Palace," which was highly praised by the press and opened at the Leipzig Spring Fair on March 6, 1921. No other version of this fountain is known. Under the direction of Professor Hans Poelzig, designers Hugo Meisel (1887–1966) and Arthur Voigt (1870–1947) worked, also creating a total of 16 large-scale animal sculptures. In addition, architects Hans Poelzig and Gustav Partz, in cooperation with Marlene Mechke, designed electrified table lamps, ceiling and wall lights, as well as porcelain consoles that reached heights up to 250 cm. These exhibits, produced at the Volkstedt porcelain manufactory, attracted much public attention, with admiration for the "variety and exciting light effects of the lighting fixtures" as well as the "remarkable grotesques" and dramatically expressive, oversized animal figures. The production presented a special technical challenge, requiring extensive craftsmanship experience. Even today, they are considered technical and artistic masterpieces. Most pieces remained white, while some were decorated with bright accent colors. See Schöne, Porzellanland Thüringen, p.243ff.; Catalogue Schwarzenburger Werkstätten, p.272ff.; Friche, Älteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur, p.211ff.; Zimmermann, in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol.49, 1921–1922, p.46ff.; Porzellanland Thüringen, p.243ff., Grassi Museum Cat., Jugendstil, p.58. Provenance: From the significant private collection in northern Germany. Rare monumental porcelain fountain, 260 cm high, with a large deer figure for the Leipzig Spring Fair, 1921. With monogram and date. Partially restored. Minor chips. Manufacturer’s underglaze blue mark. Thuringia. Volkstedt-Rudolstadt. Älteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur. Circa 1921.