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Lot Essay
Carl Frederic von Holstein was born in Stockholm in 1700 and died in 1763. He was the official representative of the Admirality and Minister in Russia under Christian VI (1699-1746), King of Denmark. In 1752 he was made Knight of the Elephant Order. The Order of the Elephant is the highest order in Denmark and is traditionally reserved for members of the royal family, but at times bestowed upon foreign heads of state. In this instance the honor is particularly notable because von Holstein was neither. The other set of arms are those of his second wife, Margrethe von Ahlefeld (1712-58).
For other examples see de Noordhout, Porcelains chinoises 'Compagnie des Indes' décorées d'armoiries belges, Brussels, 1997, p. 86-7; Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Company, Fribourg, 1962, p. 49, fig. 23; Howard and Ayers, op. cit., vol. II, pp. 552-3, pl. 571; and Du Boulay, Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, Englewood, New Jersey, 1984, p. 280, no. 3 sold in these Rooms, 1 March 1976, lot 7; and Christie's, Amsterdam, 19 May 1993, lot 194.
The shape was probably based on a silver prototype which was then copied in faience at several European factories including Strasbourg, Crailsheim, Nuremberg and Höchst.
For other examples see de Noordhout, Porcelains chinoises 'Compagnie des Indes' décorées d'armoiries belges, Brussels, 1997, p. 86-7; Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Company, Fribourg, 1962, p. 49, fig. 23; Howard and Ayers, op. cit., vol. II, pp. 552-3, pl. 571; and Du Boulay, Christie's Pictorial History of Chinese Ceramics, Englewood, New Jersey, 1984, p. 280, no. 3 sold in these Rooms, 1 March 1976, lot 7; and Christie's, Amsterdam, 19 May 1993, lot 194.
The shape was probably based on a silver prototype which was then copied in faience at several European factories including Strasbourg, Crailsheim, Nuremberg and Höchst.