A PAIR OF MEISSEN CHINOISERIE TWO-HANDLED BEAKERS AND SAUCERS painted by Johann Gregor Höroldt with half-length figures, each beaker painted with two scenes, one beaker with two figures before a smoking kiln and a seated figure writing before an elaborate screen and below an iron-red hammock, the other beaker with a seated dignitary being presented with a cup of tea by an attendant before a curtain with a pendant tassel, with a figure before a bowl feeding birds, one saucer with a horse in plumed head-dress led by a blackamoor attendant beside flowers and a palm tree, the other with an Oriental leading a camel, within shaped gilt line cartouches with Böttger lustre panels and iron-red, purple and yellow Laub-und-Bandelwerk, the borders with intricate interlocking gilt scrolls and flowerheads (both saucers with very minor rubbing to gilding of cartouches and one beaker with minor rubbing to gilt rim), blue crossed swords marks, the first beaker with blue enamel crossed swords mark, workman's to saucers, , circa 1725 (2)

Details

A PAIR OF MEISSEN CHINOISERIE TWO-HANDLED BEAKERS AND SAUCERS painted by Johann Gregor Höroldt with half-length figures, each beaker painted with two scenes, one beaker with two figures before a smoking kiln and a seated figure writing before an elaborate screen and below an iron-red hammock, the other beaker with a seated dignitary being presented with a cup of tea by an attendant before a curtain with a pendant tassel, with a figure before a bowl feeding birds, one saucer with a horse in plumed head-dress led by a blackamoor attendant beside flowers and a palm tree, the other with an Oriental leading a camel, within shaped gilt line cartouches with Böttger lustre panels and iron-red, purple and yellow Laub-und-Bandelwerk, the borders with intricate interlocking gilt scrolls and flowerheads (both saucers with very minor rubbing to gilding of cartouches and one beaker with minor rubbing to gilt rim), blue crossed swords marks, the first beaker with blue enamel crossed swords mark, workman's to saucers, , circa 1725 (2)

Lot Essay

Other wares from this 'half figure' service were sold in these Rooms on 5 October 1981, lots 147-156. A pair of beakers and saucers from the same service are in the Wark Collection, see Mary Campbell Gristina, The Wark Collection Early Meissen Porcelain, no. 16. See also Ulrich Pietsch, Early Meissen Porcelain, p. 52, nos. 37-38 for a pair of teabowls and saucers

It would appear that the present examples were painted by J.G. Höroldt himself. The extraordinary detail, inventiveness and use of colour point to his hand. It would also appear to be the first time that gold ornament was used for the figures' clothing

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