4 - A MEISSEN WHITE PORCELAIN FLOWER-ENCRUSTED VASE, CIRCA 1735-38

A MEISSEN WHITE PORCELAIN FLOWER-ENCRUSTED VASE, CIRCA 1735-38 probably modelled by J.J. Kändler and J.F. Eberlein, of flask form, applied with a flower garland pendent from ribbon bows, gilt upper rim, interior and foot, blue crossed swords mark, impressed asterisk dreher’s mark to footrim for Gottfried Bergmann, 12cm high, restored chip and some regilding to footrim, lacking cover This type of white porcelain with distinctive flower swag decoration has been associated with a group of Meissen given to Queen Sophie Dorothea of Prussia in 1735, and to Maria Josepha, Electress of Saxony and Queen of Poland in 1738. J.J. Kändler's work records for 1735, 1738 and 1739 record pieces with ribbon tied flower decoration (see S. Wittwer, 'Liaisons Fragile: Exchanges of Gifts between Saxony and Prussia in the Early Eighteenth Century', Fragile Diplomacy, 2007, p.101). Known pieces with this type of applied flower decoration are also distinguished by areas of gold ground, as seen on the interior of this bottle, gilt bands to the rims and in some cases purple camaieu landscape scenes. It is not known if this type of decoration was used exclusively for the royal gifts or whether further small services or pieces in this style were produced around the same time. An ecuelle and cover with comparable decoration was sold Bonhams London, 2 July 2019, lot 43 and a bowl and cover sold Christie's New York, 20 May 2008, lot 99. Other comparable pieces include a circular tureen and cover, a teapot, a coffee pot, a milk jug, two covered two-handled cups with stands and a circular bowl, cover and stand, in the collection of the Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin (illustrated by M. Cassidy-Geiger, The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain, 2008, fig. 256.1; and by U. Pietsch / C. Banz, Triumph der blauen Schwerter, 2010, no. 168). Related pieces were sold by the executors of the late Prince S.A. Radziwill, Christie's London, 4 July 1977, lot 170, and from the Kramarsky Collection, Christie's New York, 30 October 1993, lot 31, of which a small two-handled bowl and cover is now in the Arnhold Collection, New York (Cassidy-Geiger, op. cit., no. 256). A pair of small ecuelles, covers and stands are in the Louvre Museum, Paris (TH582 and TH583). A coffee pot and cover, of which the spout, handle and applied flowers are covered in oxidised silver, is in the Grassi Museum, Leipzig (Dieter Gielke, Meissener Porzellan des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts, 2003, no. 274). A small two-handled bowl and cover is in the Museo Giuseppe Gianetti, Saronno (L. Brambilla Bruni, Porcellane di Meissen, 1994, no. 109).