A rare Meissen part dinner service second half 18th century

each piece finely painted with a different animal or bird subject in a landscape within a colorful floral border, comprising: two 13 1/4-inch circular platters, two 16 1/2-inch oval platters, a two-handled tray, a domed cover, a circular shallow bowl, twenty plates and eleven soup plates, crossed swords and crossed swords dot marks in underglaze-blue. 38 pieces.

Most pieces have som minor glaze flaws visible in raking light, otherwise all in good condition, except: Both 13 inch dishes with minor stacking wear to glaze. One 16 inch platter with minor fritting and enamel loss to rim edge. Cover - the knop has been off and glued back on and there is a 3/8 inch long section of the stalk missing Soup plates: One has an 1/8 inch shallow chip to the rim edge. One has a 1 1/4 inch chip to the upper rim edge Plates 3 each have a 1/4 inch chip to the rim one has a half inch chip to the rim and a small chip to the footrim one has an 1/8 inch enamel flake to the rim one has a 1 1/2 inch chip to the rim one has an 1/8 inch rim chip Please not that there are 19 plates and eleven soup plates, not twenty plates and ten soup plates as listed in the catalogue.
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 decoration of this service falls interestingly between two well-known Meissen services, the 'Northumberland Service' and the 'Japanese Service.' Also painted with studies of animals, yet with different borders and forms, the 'Northumberland Service' was presented as a gift to Sir Charles Hanbury Williams by Augustus III in 1748 and the 'Japanese service' was ordered by Frederick the Great from the Meissen Manufactory in 1762 (for a detailed discussion of the 'Northumberland Service,' please see Timothy H. Clarke, "Northumberland-Service aus Meißener Porzellan" in Keramos, October 1975, pp. 9-92 and for a discussion of the "Japanese Service," see "Pavian, Camel und Panter-Thier, Das Japanische Service Friedrichs des Großen'' in Porticus, Sonderheft 2003, pp. 3-8). Pieces from the present service have been attributed to the ownership of Frederick the Great; however, no supporting archival proof has yet been discovered.

Five circular chargers in three sizes from this service, Property from the Estate of Brooke Astor, were offered in these rooms, New York, September 24, 2012, lots 308-310.