209 - Pair of large, magnificent ornamental vases with a design of lily of the valley and forget-me-nots from Meissen

Pair of large, magnificent ornamental vases with a design of lily of the valley and forget-me-nots from Meissen A flared, round, gilded base supports a baluster-shaped body with a tapering shoulder, transitioning into a recessed neck with a flaring rim. Above the base, a dense foliage background featuring blooming white lily-of-the-valley flowers, transitioning into flower stems with blue forget-me-nots outlined by vertical gold fields. The shoulder features an ornamental border, and the neck is adorned with corresponding flowers. Fine polychrome painting with gold accents. Decorative design by Ludwig Gruner. Model No. 50461. Sword mark. Height: 56.5 cm – 57.5 cm. Ludwig Gruner (1801–1882), a native of Dresden, initially apprenticed as an artist and copperplate engraver under Carl August Richter. During a series of notably frequent stays abroad in Italy, Spain, and France, he came to England in the early 1840s, where he was discovered and supported by the royal family and played a key role as an artistic advisor to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria in building their art collection. Upon his return to Germany, Gruner became director of the Dresden Kupferstichkabinett in 1858 and was appointed professor at the Academy of Fine Arts. His burgeoning interest in garden art led to illustrations such as the lily-of-the-valley design for a Meissen service created in 1861, which was awarded a gold medal at the 1862 London World’s Fair. See Anniversary Collection 2010, 300 Years of the Meissen Manufactory, pp. 66–67; Bröhan Museum Catalog, V/2, p. 29 (form). A large, splendid pair of porcelain vases, finely painted with a floral arrangement of lily of the valley and “forget-me-nots” after L. Gruner. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Circa 2020.