Fountain Grotto, a Gartendessert (Table Decoration)

This fountain grotto centerpiece from a gartendessert (table decoration) produced at the Royal Bavarian Manufacture at Nymphenburg is based on a J.E. Nilson etching (c. 1756) entitled Project d'une Grotte, part of a series of four designs for garden pieces. Formerly attributed to Franz Anton Bustelli, the work was likely modeled by a craftsman close to Bustelli, perhaps Dominikus Auliczek or Peter Seefried. Regardless of authorship, the composition and use of color exhibit the fantastic and graceful quality of the Bavarian Rococo.