An assembled Echternach-decorated Villeroy & Boch creamware part dinner service, circa 1880-85

printed in brown and enhanced in colours, comprising a floral part including: a fish dish with double strainer, 57 cm. wide; a sauceboat; a footed dish; a cover and stand, tureen lacking; three circular dishes in sizes; an oval charger; two oval dishes; 12 dinner plates; 13 dessert plates; together with an ornithological part including: a soup tureen, cover and stand; a sauceboat; a pedestal dish; a footed dish; an ogival dish; two circular dishes in size; an oval charger; two oval dishes; 11 dessert plates; green factory marks, various ZENS FRÈRES ECHTERNACH marks; together with a Echternach-decorated Limoges porcelain ornitoholigal part tête-à-tête; overall chips and damages (67)

Paleis Noordeinde

Overall in good creamware condition with some usual craquelé to the glaze and slight rubbing to the puce rim. The plates with some minor wear and scratches to the enamels from use. Some minor chips along the underside of the rims from firing. The floral part: The fish dish with a small shallow chip to the underside of the rim. Some glaze frits to the finial of the tureen cover. The footed dish with brown discolouring to the centre and some cracks to the foot rim. One dessert plate with a rim chip and one with brown discolouring to the centre. The ornithological part: The tureen with a large chip (ca. 0.9 x 4 cm.) to the upper rim, both handles with a minor chip. The cover with some brownish glaze craquelé and three small rim chips. The pedestal dish with a tiny chip to the underside of the rim of one handle. The handles of the ornithological footed dish with three chips. The smaller circular dish with shaped border with a crescent-shaped brown crack to the centre. One of the pair of dishes with a rim chip (ca. 0.7 x 1.8 cm.), both with a brown crack to the centre. The J. Pouyat Limoges tea set comprising: a two-handled tray, 41 cm. wide a teapot and cover: lacking the handle and a small chip to the spout a milkjug: the handle with three restuck fragments and the upper border with a chip and two cracks two cups: one cracked, the other with a minute chip to the upper rim
"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."

In 1884 the Manufacture Royale Grand-Ducale de Zens Frères à Echternach in Luxembourg produced a 95-piece topographical service as a welcoming gift to Koningin Emma, Groothertogin van Luxemburg. The year before, in 1883, the factory presented a 124-piece dessert service to her daughter Prinses Wilhelmina. The services and royal connections are discussed in: G. May, Un cadeau royal signé "Zens frères Echternach", collection de sa Majesté la Reine des Pays-Bas..., Luxembourg 1990.