A unique, monumental deer fountain for the "Porcelain Palace" at the Leipzig Spring Fair 1921.

20th century; disassembled. White porcelain. Three-sided stepped, two-tier arrangement of flat molded basins with beak-shaped spouts over three large basins, vertically divided by curved leaf steps with partially removable cachepots. Central ascending oval column with four protruding leaf-shaped spouts and capital-like top. Crowned by the majestic figure of a standing stag over a tree support on a profiled oval pedestal. The antler crown is removable. Surrounding design of strong relief foliage. Possibly designed by Hugo Meisel. Monogrammed "HM" with date (19)21. Partially restored; minimal damage. Underglaze blue manufacturer's mark. Overall height of the fountain approximately 260 cm. Approximately 158 x 115 cm. Figure height 105 cm (with antlers). This imposing fountain installation 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. Another version of this fountain is not known. Under the direction of Prof. Hans Poelzig, the modelers Hugo Meisel (1887-1966) and Arthur Voigt (1870-1947) were involved, who also produced a total of 16 animal sculptures of enormous size. In addition, the architects Hans Poelzig and Gustav Partz, in collaboration with Marlene Moeschke, designed electrified floor lamps, ceiling and wall lamps, as well as porcelain consoles, which reached a height of up to 250 cm. These exhibits, produced at the Volkstedt Porcelain Manufactory, attracted great attention from the public, who admired "the diversity and fascinating light effects of the lighting bodies" as well as the "remarkable grotesques" and the pathetically expressive, excessively large animal figures. The production posed a special technical challenge, which required extensive craftsmanship experience. Even today, they are considered a technical and artistic masterpiece. The majority of the pieces were left in white, while some were painted in bold accent colors. See Schöne, Porzellanland Thüringen, p. 243ff; Catalog Schwarzenburger Werkstätten, p. 272ff; Fritzsche, Älteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur, p. 211f; Zimmermann, in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. 49, 1921-1922, p. 46ff; Porzellanland Thüringen, p. 243ff, Cat. Grassi-Museum, Jugendstil, p. 58. Provenance: From the estate of a significant North German private collection. A rare monumental 260-centimeter-high multi-piece porcelain fountain crowned by a large figure of a stag for the Leipzig Spring Trade Fair 1921. Monogrammed and dated. Partly restored. Minor chipped. Underglaze blue manufacturer's mark. Thüringen. Volkstedt-Rudolstadt. Älteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur. Circa 1921.