A Meissen 'Brühlsche Allerlei' part dinner service circa 1742-48

each piece finely painted with studies of fruit, vegetables, nuts, berries, seeds and flowers, the borders elaborately molded with various basketweave patterns, comprising: a large oval tureen and cover, a circular tureen and cover, two smaller oval tureens and covers, three 17 7/8-inch oval platters, two 15 1/4-inch circular platters, two 13 1/2-inch circular platters, two 12-inch circular platters, a large two-handled tray, eight soup plates, twenty dinner plates, four circular deep dishes and a ladle, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, 'C' Konditorei mark in puce to two dinner plates and all four deep circular dishes. 51 pieces.

All in good condition, with minor scattered wear to gilding, except: Large oval tureen - restored crack running down from the rim and around the base, and partially through the feet. The restoration has yellowed. There are restored chips and losses to the leaves on the handle terminals. Cover - has a fine 4 inch haircrack running under the knop. Small chips, losses and restoration to the roots of the turnip and to the applied leaves. There is a 1 inch rim chip, partially filled with old restoration. Circular tureen - has a long fine haircrack running across the base and up both sides, stopping short of the rim, and dividing on one side to run approx 9 inches around the body horizontally. Small patches of flaking and retouching to the green enamel of the painted flowers and fruit. Cover - has restoration to the lemon and one small applied flower Smaller tureen - has a tiny less than 1/8 inch rim chip Cover - has a 2 inch bruise crack to the inner rim edge. 17 inch oval platter - one has a 1/4 in filled chip to the rim 15 inch round platter - one has a 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch v-shaped filled chip to the rim 13 inch round platter - one has several long fine haircracks restored over 12 inch round platter - both bear C marks and exhibit more wear to the enamels and gilding than most other pieces. One has a 1 inch bruise crack to the rim, the other has several restored rim chips. Ladle - has an 18th century gilt metal repair to the stem, the bowl has been broken in two pieces and restuck and has an associated 1/2 inch rim chip restored. Deep dishes - one has an 1/8 inch rim chip. All four have slight wear to the enamels. Soup Plates: Two have some fine lumps under the glaze in the center. One has a 3/8 inch rim chip. Dinner Plates: One has two small restored rim chips, one issuing a haircrack One has an 1/8 inch rim chip restored One has a 1 inch restored rim chip issuing a short hair crack One has an 1/8 inch rim chip Two have a chip to the foot rim One has a bruise crack to the foot rim One has a 1/4 inch rim chip One has a patch of stacking wear and some flaking to the enamels One has a 3/8 inch rim chip restored.
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.

The 'Brühlsche Allerlei' service, commissioned in 1742 by Count Heinrich von Brühl, the Director of the Meissen manufactory from 1733 until his death in 1763, stands as one of the most magnificent services produced by Meissen in the first half of the 18th century. Until Johanna Lessmann shed considerable light on its history in her article, “Das 'Brühlsche Allerlei,' Ein Service für Heinrich Graf von Brühl,’ in Ulrich Pietsch, Schwanenservice, Meissener Porzellan für Heinrich Graf von Brühl, pp. 106-119, however, this service was overshadowed for the most part by its renowed counterparts, such as the 'St. Andrew' or the 'Swan' service.

The approximate size of the 'Brühlsche Allerlei' service can be somewhat constructed from Eberlein’s work reports as well as the 1753 inventory of von Brühl's Konditorei published in Karl Eberling, Das Meissner Porzellan und seine Geschichte, Appendix no. 5, pp. 187-190, and the 1765 inventory listing compiled shortly after Brühl's death, published by Lessmann, ibid., pp. 248-249. According to Lessmann, this extensive service consisted of as many as 2,000 pieces and comprised dinner, dessert, coffee and tea services. As identified by Lessmann, the 1765 inventory entry, ‘Eine Partie von dem guten grossen Tafel service’ [A part of a good large table service], most likely corresponds to the 'Brühlsche Allerlei' service, specifying numerous serving pieces, some of which were described as being decorated with fruit or vegetables (for example: ‘Vier grosen ovalen Terrinen mit Deckeln, worauf unterschiedene Früchte’ [Four large oval tureens with covers, whereupon various fruit (are found)].

The shapes of the serving pieces follow the highly fashionable French silver prototypes of the period that were made after the introduction of dining à la française, circa 1730. Tureens constituted an important role, as in any grand service, by lavishly demonstrating the modeling and painting skills of the factory in a fashionable manner. For these more complex pieces, the acclaimed modeller Johann Joachim Kändler is thought to have collaborated with Johann Friedrich Eberlein, who was the main modeller for this service. As cited by Lessmann, Kändler reported in his work record: ‘die zum Service von des Ministers von Brühl Excellenz gehörige Pottagen Nӓpffe eine Staude Blumenkohl, wie auch eine Kohl Rabi nach der Natur poussiert, nicht allein die Deckels damit zu verzieheren, sondern auch daß solche recht füglich dabey können abgehoben werden’ [for the service of his Excellence, Minister von Brühl, belonging to the soup porringers, modelled a cauliflower head, like a turnip, after nature, not only to decorate the cover but also so that it can be conveniently lifted up].

A thorough understanding of the variety of the tureens in this service is indeed problematic, mainly owing to only a few known pieces. A white oval tureen, most likely a test model, from the Dresden Porzellansammlung is illustrated by Lessmann, cat no. 142, p. 203. Another polychrome oval tureen with a lemon knop is illustrated ibid, cat. no. 145, p. 206. A circular tureen, similar to the one in the present service, now in the Collection of Henry Arnhold, illustrated by Maureen Cassidy-Geiger in The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain, 1710-1750, cat. no. 206, pp. 464-465, was sold at Sotheby's New York, May 21, 2004, lot 171. Another oval tureen with a cauliflower knop was recently sold at Christie’s New York, May 20, 2014, lot 60. A seventy-five piece part service, including circular and oval platters of various sizes, a pair of wine coolers and grape baskets, was sold at Sotheby's London, July 8, 1997, lot 57.

As early as August 1742, Eberlein appears to have begun working on modelling the tureens: ‘An dem Grӓfl. Brühlschen eine Probe-Terrinen gearbeitet’ [To the Brühl’s, worked on a test-tureen]. The 1765 inventory lists numerous tureens according to shapes (oval or circular) and size (large, middle-sized or smaller); however it is unfortunately not possible to deduce the exact dimensions. A quick comparison of the published tureens makes it safe to assume that the two smaller oval tureens in the present service could be one of those as recorded in the entry ‘Vier ovalen kleinen terrinen’ [Four oval small tureens], the large oval example could possibly be one of the larger oval tureens as cited earlier in the note; and finally, the circular tureen could perhaps be one of the middle-sized ones, as recorded: ‘Neun runden mittleren Terrinen’ [Nine round middle-sized tureens].

The two-handled tray is the first known example from this service and was most likely modelled by Johann Gottlieb Ehder, who also collaborated on this service a little after Eberlein started in 1742. Ehder's work report from May 1744 cites: 'Eine große paßigte Einsez-Schaale zu einer Terrine zum Graff Brühlschen Servis mit frantzösischen Zierathen nebst Henkeln von Thon neu bossirt' [Just modelled from clay a large oval tray platter with French decoration together with handles to one of the tureens in Count Brühl's service]. This entry most probably relates to the present tray, which was intended as a stand to one of the oval tureens.

One of the most distinguishing elements of this service is the naturalistic depiction of various plants, fruit, nuts and seeds that exhibits itself both in the three-dimensional modelling of the knops on the covers and the handles of the tureens as well as the two-dimensional painting. Often referred as the 'Brühlsche border,' the rims are elaborately molded with three floral sprays picked out in enamels alternating with shells against panels of basketwork in various patterns. It is indeed this charming juxtaposition of different decorative traits that has given the service its name, 'Brühlsche Allerlei,' which can be translated as 'Brühl's Farrago.' Lessmann identifies the one known source for the painted fruit and vegetables as Johann Wilhelm Weinmann’s Phytanthoza Iconographia, 1737-45, which was published in four volumes and illustrates approximately 4,000 plates. For the flower paintings, two sources have so far been identified: the engravings of Jacques Bailly, Divers Fleurs mises en boucquets, and Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer's Liures de Plusierurs Paniers de Fleurs, which were both published circa 1670.

Sotheby's thanks Thomas Miltschus, curator at the Porzellanikon, Staatliches Museum für Porcelain, Hohenberg a. d. Eger/Selb, for his help with researching this lot.