An impressive large Vienna circular tray circa 1870

the centre painted with an octagonal panel of a young lady in white Neoclassical dress seated near a small waterfall, signed A. Calbach, surrounded by a gilt frame with Neoclassical palmettes, separated from the gilt border by a small red frame, the border with palmette decoration set with four circular reserves with gilt bird silhouettes and geometrical pattern on light blue and rosé ground; in red and black fitted leather presentation case, embossed in gold "STADT REGENSBURG zum 8. Mai" with the coat-of-arms of the city of Regensburg

Purchased in 1993 in Sotheby's sale Die Fürstliche Sammlung Thurn und Taxis, 16 October, 1993, lot 2183.

This porcelain dish was presented by the City of Regensburg to Fürst Albert von Thurn and Taxis (1867-1952) on occasion of his 70th birthday. He was Erbgeneralpostmeister, resp. Kronoberstpostmeister in Bavaria; hereditary member of the Upper House of the Austrian Reichsrat, the Chamber of the Imperial Counsellors from Bavaria; the Prussian Herrenhaus and the Chamber of the lords in Württemberg; Head of the Royal Bavarian Chevauxlegers Regiment Taxis; Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Prince Albert of Thurn & Taxis was born in Regensburg on 8 May 1867. His godfather was King Albert of Saxony. When his father Maximilian Anton died on 26 June 1867, he was not yet two months old. His elder brother Maximilian succeeded his father, but died in 1885, when Albert became the 8th Prince of Thurn und Taxis. Until reaching majority his mother, the Dowager Princess Helene - of of the sisters of Empress Elisabeth of Austria - his legal guardian. He was honorary citizen of Regensburg and held the golden citizen medal. On 22 January 1952 the highly respected Fürst died in Regensburg.

The Empire dish after which this piece was modelled is preserved at the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna.