A VIENNA ORNITHOLOGICAL PART DINNER AND DESSERT SERVICE CIRCA 1790-95

each piece painted with one or more bird specimen beneath a border of trailing entwined ribbons and garlands at the gilt-edged rim, comprising: two fruit coolers, liners and covers, four monteiths, four wine coolers, two circular pierced baskets, two sauce tureens, covers and fixed stands, two circular dishes in two sizes, four square dishes, two oval dishes, thirty-six dinner plates and thirteen custard cups and covers, shield mark in underglaze-blue. Together with a similarly decorated Fürstenberg part dinner and dessert service, 19th century, comprising: two oval dishes, four circular dishes and eleven custard cups and eight covers, F mark in underglaze-blue; and a German porcelain part dinner and dessert service, 20th century, comprising: twenty-four soup plates, twenty-two salad plates and seventeen bread and butter plates, crossed lines mark in overglaze-blue; and a small Bing & Grondahl oval salt, standard factory marks. 183 pieces.

Sold, Christie's, London, November 21, 2005, lot 291

All in generally good condition, except: Monteiths: One with an approximate 4-inch haircrack running across the base. Pierced baskets: One has one of its handles broken off and restored back with some associated regilding in the restored area. The other basket has one of the handles broken off and reattached and the other handle broken away, which is now retained. Sauce tureens, covers and fixed stands: One tureen and fixed stand has a fine haircrack running down the rim approximately 2-1/2-inches to the base of the tureen; the same tureen has an approximate 2-inch haircrack running vertically down from the midpoint of one side to the center of the base. The finial of one cover has been off and reatttached. Circular dishes: Two dishes (smaller size), each has some very minor wear to the flower-head border in the cavetto area. Another dish has two approximate 1/2-inch firing-related haircracks at the rim, one of which extends further into a longer fine haircrack running downwards to towards the center stopping before the flowerhead border. Dinner plates: Some occasional minor stacking-related wear to the flowerhead border in the cavetto area. One plate has an approximate 1/2-inch rim chip. Another plate has an extended haircrack running down the rim to the center of the base. Custard cups: Two, each with a small rim chip. Another cup with a small chip to the footrim. German part dinner and dessert service:One soup plate with a small rimchip. Salad plates have some very minor and occasional wear to the gilding around the rimedges.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.