A rare Imperial porcelain tête-à-tête, Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, period of Alexander I (1801-1825), circa 1820

comprising: a circular tray, coffee pot, covered sugar bowl, creamer and two cups and saucers; the design of the form after François Hattenberger; the central reserves finely painted with scenes from Greek mythology after originals by Angelica Kauffmann, within gilded neo-classical frieze borders, the handles moulded with masks, apparently unmarked  

Most pieces in very good condition. The handle of the ewer with repaired breaks in four places; there is a chip at the lip of the spout measuring approx. 5mm, and another at the join of the base and body measuring approx. 3mm. The creamer with restored chip to spout. One cup with repaired handle. The remaining pieces including the large tray in excellent condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This déjeuner painted with allegorical and mythological miniatures is an exceptional example of the work of the Imperial Porcelain Factory during the reign of Alexander I. The Factory started to produce breakfast services, called déjeuners or tête-à-têtes, in the middle of the 18^th century, and their popularity reached its peak in the first quarter of the 19^th century. The earlier sets were made specially for members of the Imperial family, either to be presented to the Emperor at Christmas and New Year or to form a compulsory part of the wedding gift given to the Grand Dukes. As a rule, only one example of each set was made and never repeated. 

The then-fashionable neo-classical style of the service manifests itself in the antique forms and in the decoration of the ornamental bands, which draw inspiration from Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as in the allegorical compositions of the painted reserves. The paintings of mythological themes reproduced on the service are by the Swiss-Austrian artist Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807), whose work was hugely popular in Russia, especially in aristocratic circles, enjoying great commercial success. Her paintings featured in the collection of the Imperial Hermitage, and the famous poet Gavril Derzhavin dedicated one of his poems to her. 

Taken directly from prints of Kauffman's work by Francesco Bartolozzi, the scenes painted on this tête-à-tête also feature on the Mikhailovsky Service, which was made between 1819 and 1822 for the wedding of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (ill. 1). The decoration of the coffee pot depicts Damon and Delia (alternative title Orpheus Receiving a Wreath from a Nymph) and is based on a print by Bartolozzi from 1780 (A.Kaufmann und ihre Zeit. Graphik und Zeichnungen von 1760-1810, Dusseldorf, 1979: Cat. no. 201). Interestingly, the same composition appears on ornamental vases made in 1823-1824 for Tsarskoe Selo and for Elaginoostrovsky palace in St. Petersburg (ill. 2). The sugar bowl and the tray feature reproductions after prints by Bartolozzi of Kauffman's Science Resting in the Arms of Peace and Diana Prepares for the Hunt (idem, Cat. nos. 201 and 47). Although the sources for the miniature decoration on the cups and creamer, depicting Olympian goddess Hera and allegorical figures of painting and spring, have not been identified, stylistically they are reminiscent of works by Kauffmann. 

Close similarities in themes and designs of the offered lot and the Mikhailovsky Service suggest that this déjeuner was also part of the wedding gift for Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. Additional support for this theory can be found in the archival record of the porcelain manufactured for the Grand Duke, which includes a description of a déjeuner featuring 'painted figures, decorated with gold, worth 700 roubles' (Russian State Historical Archive, fund 468, op. 1, ch. 1, 1819-25, d. 1.).

The classical ornamentations, elegant silhouettes, graceful curves, finely-worked sculptural details of the handles and unusual construction of the pieces suggest that this déjeuner is a rare example of porcelain designed by François Hattenberger between 1815 and 1825. At the time, due to technical difficulties encountered when firing complex shapes or sculpted decorations such as these, a metal pin covered in plaster and evident on the bases was used to strengthen the cups, coffee pot, creamer and sugar bowl.

Jean-François-Xavier Hattenberger, director of the Imperial Porcelain Factory between 1803 and 1806, was responsible for various designs for objects made from porcelain, glass, stone and silver (ill. 3). Hattenberger's best work is in Empire style; looking at the aesthetic of classical antiquity, he used practical designs and augmented them with elegant sculptural details such as the  mascarons and palmettes decorating the elegantly curved handles of the present tête-à-tête.

We are grateful to Irina Popova, Senior Curator at the State Russian Musuem, St. Petersburg, for her help with research of this lot. 

If you would like to receive the Russian translation of the catalogue note, please contact the department on +44 (0)207 293 5570.