Gold Boxes, Ceramics & Silver

A Meissen "Onion" pattern blue and white part dinner service, circa 1900

UK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

May 26, 01:39 PM GMT

Estimate

6,000 - 10,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A Meissen "Onion" pattern blue and white part dinner service

circa 1900

with shaped gilt line rims, comprising: a two-handled tureen and cover, a pair of vegetable tureens and covers, two oval serving dishes in sizes, a circular serving dish, a square bowl, two saucer dishes, a sauce tureen cover and fixed stand, a pair of two-handled sauceboats on fixed stands, a mustard pot and cover on fixed stand, a shell-moulded twin serving dish, eight soup plates, nineteen dinner plates, six side plates, six bread and butter plates, twelve cake plates, twelve pierced dessert plates, four various breakfast cups and saucers, eight tea cups and saucers, three coffee cups and saucers, blue crossed swords marks; and six blue and white cutlery rests ensuite

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The "Onion" pattern or Zweibelmuster was produced at Meissen from the early 18th century and is derived from a Chinese export porcelain pattern. The original Chinese pattern featured peaches and pomegranates to the borders as symbols of longevity and fecundity. Over time the unfamiliar pomegranate morphed into a bulb or onion giving us the familiar name we have today. The bold and distinctive pattern could be produced using stencils making it ideal to produce large dinner and dessert services making the wares practical. The design could be embellished, as with the present service, with a gilded rim.