A rare Meissen Marcolini porcelain part-dinner and dessert service, late 18th century
Auction Closed
June 24, 04:51 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
painted with large sprays of flowers and smaller bouquets and sprigs, the tureens and baskets, modelled by J.C. Schoenheit, with ram’s-head masks, and applied hanging laurel wreaths and flower garlands, gilt-dentil borders, comprising:
one large oval tureen, cover and stand, width of stand 16 ⅞ in; 43 cm;
one smaller oval tureen, cover and stand, width of stand 15 ½ in; 39.5 cm;
nineteen dinner plates, 10 in; 24.5 cm diam.
thirteen soup plates, 9 in; 23 cm diam.;
sixteen reticulated dessert plates, 9 ½ in; 24 cm diam.;
one large reticulated oval basket on paw feet, width 15 in; 38.1 cm diam.;
a pair of reticulated footed baskets, width 11 ¾ in; 30 cm.;
a pair of ice pails, covers and liners;
three bottle coolers;
a further smaller bottle cooler;
two monteiths;
three oval serving dishes, in three sizes, widths 13 ¼ in; 33.5 cm-18 ⅛ in; 46 cm;
three circular serving dishes in three sizes, diams. 11 ⅞ in; 30 cm-15 ⅛ in; 38.5 cm;
two round dishes, diam. 10 ¼ in; 26 cm;
three large triangular dishes with two sizes, widths 10 ⅞ in; 27.5 cm-12 ¾ in; 32.5 cm;
three leaf-shaped dishes with vine handles;
two leaf-shaped oval dishes,
one two-handled double-lipped sauceboat;
one square dish;
two lozenge-shaped dishes;
five pot-de-crème and covers,
crossed swords marks, asterisk and dashes in underglaze-blue, impressed numerals, various painters' numerals, some pieces with gilder's mark F.
together with a Nymphenburg square bowl, 20th century, printed mark, painters' numerals
(100)
By repute, Henri, duc de Bordeaux, comte de Chambord (1820-1883);
By repute, thence by descent to his nephew, Enrico Giorgio, Principe di Parma, Count de' Bardi (1851-1905);
Lord Revelstoke, who purchased the service in Venice;
Samuel Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Baron Masham of Swinton (1815-1906), acquired from the above, after 1886, through the merchant Frederick Davis & Son for £15;
thence by descent to his grand-daughter and heir Mary Constance "Molly" Boynton (1890-1974), who married Philip Lloyd-Greame (who took the name Cunliffe-Lister), later 1st Earl of Swinton;
The Earls of Swinton, Swinton House, Masham, Yorkshire, sold, Christie's, house sale, 20-21 October 1975, lot 323 (part);
With Kunsthandel Heide Hübner, Würzburg;
E.A. Titgemeyer Collection, Osnabrück, acquired from the above in 1976;
Acquired from the above in 2024.
Swinton Park, Masham
Much of the collection at Swinton Park, of which the present service once formed a part, was assembled by Samuel Cunliffe Lister (1815–1906), who acquired the house and the majority of its contents in 1883. He formed a notable collection of French furniture and objets d’art, establishing himself as a discerning connoisseur of 18th-century mounted porcelain in the tradition of French ancien régime collecting. Baron Masham built his collection through a combination of dealers, auction purchases, and personal networks. He is recorded as having bought from the dealer Davis of Pall Mall and sought advice from John Charles Robinson, first curator of the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum). Important works from his collection have since reappeared on the market, including an exceptional three-piece garniture sold at Sotheby’s, Paris (Treasures from the Prestigious Qizilbash Collection, 28–29 November 2016, lot 9, €1,147,500) and a Chinese black and gold pot-pourri vase sold at Sotheby’s, London (The Dimitri Mavrommatis Collection, 8 July 2008, lot 64, £2,169,250).
The present service is recorded in the Swinton Park ‘Inventory of decorative furniture and works of Art, china etc., bought since the year 1886’:
“Nr 125. 1 Old Dresden China dinner, desert & coffee service, of 302 pieces, painted with flowers on a white ground. Bought from Lord Revelstoke, who bought it at Venice, supposed from the Count de Bardi who inherited it from the Count de Chambord' / acquired from the merchant Davis for £15.00.”
(Swinton and Middleham Estate Records (ZS), North Yorkshire Archives, Box 21/4).
The same inventory also notes 102 knives, apparently ensuite. Samuel purchased Swinton Park in 1883 from George Danby Affleck, for £400,000. He spent a further £100,000 on alterations, and then also purchased furniture and pictures for the interiors. Parts of the collections were dispersed in auctions: on 13-16 May 1947 with Messrs. Hollis & Webb, and then at Christie’s, London in October, November and December 1975, and subsequently at Sotheby's in 2023 and 2024.