Johann Joachim Kandler

Kaendler began as a modeller at Meissen in 1731 and by 1733 was model master, a position he held for 42 years. He was the creator of European style porcelain figure-modelling. His first works were large animal forms for the Dresden China Palace and from 1735 onward he created plastic design on table services for royalty. In 1736 he began making small figures, painted in bold colors, of characters from the theather and contemporary life, including the forms of this crinoline group, "The Handkiss." Kaendler is responsible for developing porcelain as a sculptural medium and had a great influence on all modelled porcelain of Europe.