A Meissen large dish from the Clemens August service circa 1741-42

finely painted with scattered cut flowers (Holzschnittblumen) and insects, the shaped rim with the monogram 'CA' enclosed by the ribbon and cross of the Grand Master of the Deutsche Orden, surmounted by the crown of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, the gilt-edged, shaped hexagonal rim moulded with gilt shells

Clemens August of Bavaria (1700-61), Elector and Archbishop of Cologne, Prince Bishop of Münster, Paderborn, Hildesheim and Osnabrück, and Grand Master of the Deutsche Orden, was one of the grandest and most powerful princes of the 18th century. He placed several important commissions at the Meissen manufactory, and appears to have owned a considerable collection of both Oriental and Meissen porcelain, much of which was sold after his death.

The Elector's first commission from Meissen was the renowned chocolate, coffee and tea service of 1735 (see below for literature). The commission of this table service in 1741 is notable in that, as Dieter Hoffmeister has noted, it demonstrates the importance he attached to his role as Grand Master of the Deutsche Orden (Meissener Porzellan des 18.Jahrhunderts. Katalog der Sammlung Hoffmeister, vol.II, p.586). The order had been founded by the Staufen Emperor in 1198 in connection with the crusades, and reached the height of its power and wealth in the 14th century. By the 18th century, the order had little political role, though it owned considerable property in the German states which guaranteed its Grand Master a considerable income.

There are several mentions of the service in both Kändler's and Eberlein's work records of August to October 1741. Kändler records in August, 1741: 'Für Ihro Churfürstl. Durchl. von Cölln zu dem bestellten Serice. Die Modelle zu den Schüsseln gefertigt 4 Stück. Als die erste 1 Elle breit über den Diameter und die übrigen nach proportionen kleiner' and in the same month, 'Ein Modell zum Tellern ebenfalls su diesem Service gehörig, dabei zu gedenken, daßbesagte Schüsseln und Tellern sehr ausgeschwieft und auf dem Rande herum mit kleinen Muscheln, welche vergoldet werden sollen, verziert sind' (quoted by R. Rückert, Meissener Porzellan 1710-1810, nos.460 and 462).

For discussions of Clemens August as porcelain collector, see Erich Köllmann, 'Kurfürst Clemens August von Köln. Ein Porzellansammler des 18. Jahrhunderts', in Keramos, 13/1961, pp.19-34; Ingrid Krüger, 'Eine Deckelterrine auf Tablett aus einem Service des Clemens August von Bayern im Stadtmuseum Münster', in Keramos, 134/1991, pp.3-6; Thomas Iwe, 'Das Meißener Schokoladen-, Kaffee, und Teeservice des Kurfüsten Clemens-August von Köln', in Keramos, 189-190/2005, pp3.52; Michael Unterberg, ''Mit höchsten Nahmen, Wapen oder Mahmenszugs(eine)r churfürst(liche) D(urc)hl(euch)t gezeichnet undt schön bemahlet' - Ein Meißener Kaffee-, Tee- und Schokoladenservice für Kurfürst Clemens August von Köln', in Keramos, 189-190/2005. pp.53-94. See also Kurfürst Clemens August. Landesherr und Mäzen des 18. Jahrhunderts, exhibition catalogue, Schloß Augustusburg zu Brühl, 1961.

For other pieces from the same service, see B.Beaucamp-Markowsky, Europäisches Porzellan, Katalog des Kunstgewerbemuseums Köln, no.100-102; and D.Hoffmeister, op.cit., vol.II, no.361 and p.586.