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, & 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 & 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 & Carl Holzapfel several years later. Nome left around 1800. isshelf 18Th Century Rudolstadt Volkstedt Napoleonic Horse Figure
