TWO 18th-CENTURY MEISSEN PORCELAIN COVERS Circa 1745-1747 With polychrome decoration of bouquets of flowers and flowering stems and Gotzkowsky-Relief decoration of flowering branches, the spout decorated with a woman's mask, the handle in the shape of fruit and flowers. Marked:crossed swords in blue Restored chips on one foot H.:21 cm (8 ¼ in.) Provenance: Probably René-Louis de Voyer, marquis d'Argenson (1694-1757). Two 18th century Meissen porcelain covered jugs, circa 1745-1747 These two pourers were probably part of the service presented by Auguste III in 1747 to René-Louis de Voyer, Marquis d'Argenson, French Minister of Foreign Affairs in gratitude for his role in negotiating between Marie-Josephe de Saxe and the Dauphin, and for providing the Count of Brühl with a Gobelins tapestry. The service offered by the Court of Saxony to the Marquis d'Argenson is specifically described with flowers in relief under the enamel and painted reserves of natural flowers, the edges gilded (mit den unter der Glassur erhabenen Blumen und in den Schildern mit natürl. Blumen gemalhlt, auch goldenen Rand). For a study of this service, see S. Schwarz and J. Munger, Gifts of Meissen Porcelain to the French Court, 1728-50, Fragile Diplomacy, edited by M. Cassidy-Geiger, 2007, p.153-155 and p.346. A terrine from this service was sold by Bonhams, London, on July 2, 2019, lot 48, and an oille pot by l'étude Pescheteau-Badin, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, on March 28, 2023, lot 68.