Paris – The final part of one of the finest collections of Meissen porcelain sculpture still in private hands was offered at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr yesterday, opening the Classics week in Paris (29 October 2025). Started fifty years ago by Hadrian Merkle (1942-2018), a German businessman and extraordinarily passionate private collector, the collection included some of the rarest and finest examples of late-Baroque small-scale sculpture and notable examples by Paul Scheurich (1883-1945), widely regarded as the most important porcelain modeller of the 20th century.

The last part of the Merkle collection sold for a total of €312,192 and was led by a very rare Meissen figure of a drinking peasant, circa 1740 modelled by J.J. Kaendler sold for €51,200. Other recorded examples of this rare figure were in the Alfred E. Pearson Collection, in the Ionides Collection and in the Armand Esders Collection. A Meissen figure of a trinket seller from the large Cris de Paris series, circa 1750 modelled by P. Reinicke sold for €9,600 against an estimate of €3,000 to 5,000.

Among examples modelled by Paul Scheurich a set of five Meissen figures from the Ballets Russes in the ballet Le Carnaval, circa 1914-1923, sold for €12,800 and a very rare Meissen large white group of Europa and the Bull (Europa auf dem Stier), circa 1933-48 sold for €7,040.

Sebastian Kuhn, Director of Continental Ceramics, said: "We are thrilled to have shared this remarkable and significant collection of Meissen figurines with international collectors through three exhibitions and auctions in Paris. Mr. Merkle's vision as a collector was to highlight the extraordinary artistry of the Meissen manufactory—celebrating both the brilliance of its 18th-century master modeller, Johann Joachim Kaendler, and that of Paul Scheurich, one of the foremost porcelain artists of the 20th century. In total, these three sales brought in €1.9 million, demonstrating the strength of the market for 18th-century Meissen pieces."