Lot 535
  • 535

A rare silver-gilt mounted Böttger porcelain vase, the porcelain circa 1720-25, the decoration almost contemporary

Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Porcelain
  • 28.5 cm., 11 1/4 in. high
decorated in Augsburg, of flaring trumpet form, with two scroll-edged human masks separating applied elaborate branches of vine issuing grapes, leaves and smaller branches with perching birds picked out green, blue and purple and gilding, upon a ground highlighted in gilding with further branches and birds in flight, scrollwork borders to rims, the stepped base with silver-gilt mount,

Provenance

The Property of David Sachs, Esq., Sotheby's London, 10th March 1970, lot 71, acquired at the sale by Lacoste;
With Elfriede Langeloh, Weinheim.

Literature

Siegfried Ducret, Meißner Porzellan bemalt in Augsburg, 1718 bis um 1750, Zurich, 1971, Band I, p. 75 and 248, no. 333, illustrated.

Related Literature
Rainer Ruckert, Katalog Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1966, p. 57, pl. 13, ill. 31-34, for four vases of this form;
Siegfried Ducret, 'Augsburger Hausmalerei' in Keramos 37, July 1967, pp. 3-62, for discussion on this type of decoration;
U. Pietsch, C. Banz, Triumph der blauen Schwerter, Leipzig, 2010, p.178, no. 33, for a slightly smaller vase of this form.

Condition

The vase has an overall good appearance, with some repairs, restoration and repainting to the upper section. Ground decoration - The upper section has been re-stuck, the gilding refreshed and lacquered overall making examination with a UV and a strong light only partially useful. The area affects the upper section, from just beneath the applied masks to the rim. The area has been broken into several sections but appears to use the majority of the original porcelain. The restorer has used some artistic licence in the bird and tendril decoration, and the gilding of the masks and interior rim has a dull appearance which may disguise some minor losses. Applied decoration - Some minor chipping and losses to leaves with some associated re-gilding and re-painting. The lower part of the vase well moulded and decorated, retaining much of original decoration and minimal wear to foliage. Mount tightly fitted and porcelain underneath not examined.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Vase garnitures of this form were originally produced for the use of Augustus the Strong to furnish his palaces, one such vase with factory decoration is still in the Dresden state collection, inv. no. P. E. 2756. Two similar vases with Hausmaler decoration, slightly smaller measuring 21cm high and two smaller, 14cm high, from the collection of the Munich Royal Residenz, are illustrated by Ruckert, op. cit. Another two, of similar smaller size form and decoration with Elias Adam Augsburg mounts were in the Ludwig Darmstädter collection, Berlin, sold by Rudolph Lepke's Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin, 24-26th March 1925, lots 112-113. Another two of the same size without mounts from the Irwin Untermyer collection are in the Met Museum, New York, acc. nos. 64.101.149,.150.