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Lot Essay
For an illustration of a pair of vases of the same form, together with the companion vases of Spring and Winter see Maureen Cassidy-Geiger (ed.), Fragile Diplomacy, Meissen Porcelain for European Courts ca. 1710-63, Exhibition Catalogue, Bard Graduate Center, New York, 2007, p. 150, fig. 7-12 a-d. A garniture of five vases, with a large central vase applied with a gilded sun and surmounted by a figure of Apollo on the cover, together with the set of four 'Season' vases, was given by Augustus III to Jean Pâris de Monmartel (an influential and immensely wealthy financier) upon the occasion of his marriage to Marie Armande de Béthune. The garniture was part of a diplomatic gift of thirteen impressive vases and a large service that recognised Monmartel's vital role in the delicate negotiations to secure a marriage between Louis XV's son and the Saxon princess, Maria Josepha.1
A similar pair of vases was sold in these Rooms from the Estate of Axel Guttmann on 31 March 2008, lot 79; another pair from the series, also emblematic of Summer and Autumn was sold by Christie’s, New York, on 23 April 1998, lot 240.
1. See Selma Schwartz and Jeffrey Munger, 'Gifts of Meissen Porcelain to the French Court 1728-50' in Maureen Cassidy-Geiger (ed.), ibid., 2007, pp. 147-150 for a full discussion of Jean Pâris de Monmartel's influential role at the French court.
A similar pair of vases was sold in these Rooms from the Estate of Axel Guttmann on 31 March 2008, lot 79; another pair from the series, also emblematic of Summer and Autumn was sold by Christie’s, New York, on 23 April 1998, lot 240.
1. See Selma Schwartz and Jeffrey Munger, 'Gifts of Meissen Porcelain to the French Court 1728-50' in Maureen Cassidy-Geiger (ed.), ibid., 2007, pp. 147-150 for a full discussion of Jean Pâris de Monmartel's influential role at the French court.