519 - Two Meissen Topographical Plates, Dresden and Meißen, Blue Underglaze Painting, 1st Choice

Two Meissen Topographical Plates, Dresden and Meißen, Blue Underglaze Painting, 1st Choice Porcelain, blue underglaze painting, with gilt rim, glazed, 1st choice. Two topographical or wall plates by the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen with finely executed city vedute in strong underglaze blue. One plate shows the Albrechtsburg and the cathedral high above the Elbe at Meißen, the other the famous 'Canaletto view' of Dresden with the Hofkirche, Frauenkirche and the Augustus Bridge across the river. Both views are framed by a fine gilt rim. The undersides bear the manufactory's underglaze-blue crossed-swords mark. Good condition, D. 31 cm. Meissen's topographical plates continue the tradition of the city veduta established in the 18th c.; the Dresden 'Canaletto view' derives from a 1748 painting by Bernardo Bellotto, called Canaletto, and remains to this day an emblem of the Saxon royal capital. Founded in 1710, the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen is the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe, and its crossed swords are among the best-known marks in the world. A decorative pair depicting the two most famous Elbe views, for lovers of Meissen porcelain.