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Lot Essay
Although traditionally known as Countess Kösel, this figure was first modelled in late 1744 and Kändler's Taxa records: 1. Dame von Mopß Orden, auf einem Postament stehend in der lincken Hand einen Mopß Hund haltend, auch einen zum Füßen liegend, vor die Prinzessin von Herfordt ...10 Thlr.- .
After Freemasonary was suppressed by the Pope in 1738, Clemens August of Bavaria (1700-1761), Archbishop Elector of Cologne, founded an alternative pseudo-masonic order in Germany and Sweden to provide members with a legitimate substitute for Masonic social rites.1 Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony was the grand-master of the order in Saxony. It admitted women, was principally composed of Roman Catholics and was active between 1740 and 1782. The pug-dog, symbolising the attributes of devotion and fidelity, was used as its emblem. It is interesting to note that the Director of the manufactory and Prime Minister of Poland, Count Brühl, was particularly fond of pug-dogs.
See the similar example from the collection of H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent sold in these Rooms on 12 March 1947, lot 143 and sold again in these Rooms on 29 April 1954, lot 34. Two figures of a mason and his companion (with marbled pedestals) were sold in these Rooms on 13 December 2001, lots 644 and 645 and another pair were also sold in these Rooms on 21 November 2005, lot 88. For an example of the lady in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection, Basel, see Dr. Erika Pauls-Eisenbeiss, German Porcelain of the 18th Century, London, 1972, Vol. I, pp. 206-207.
1. For a discussion of the Mopsorden, see Erich Köllmann, 'Der Mopsorden', Keramos, no. 50, October 1970, pp. 71-82.
After Freemasonary was suppressed by the Pope in 1738, Clemens August of Bavaria (1700-1761), Archbishop Elector of Cologne, founded an alternative pseudo-masonic order in Germany and Sweden to provide members with a legitimate substitute for Masonic social rites.1 Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony was the grand-master of the order in Saxony. It admitted women, was principally composed of Roman Catholics and was active between 1740 and 1782. The pug-dog, symbolising the attributes of devotion and fidelity, was used as its emblem. It is interesting to note that the Director of the manufactory and Prime Minister of Poland, Count Brühl, was particularly fond of pug-dogs.
See the similar example from the collection of H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent sold in these Rooms on 12 March 1947, lot 143 and sold again in these Rooms on 29 April 1954, lot 34. Two figures of a mason and his companion (with marbled pedestals) were sold in these Rooms on 13 December 2001, lots 644 and 645 and another pair were also sold in these Rooms on 21 November 2005, lot 88. For an example of the lady in the Pauls-Eisenbeiss Collection, Basel, see Dr. Erika Pauls-Eisenbeiss, German Porcelain of the 18th Century, London, 1972, Vol. I, pp. 206-207.
1. For a discussion of the Mopsorden, see Erich Köllmann, 'Der Mopsorden', Keramos, no. 50, October 1970, pp. 71-82.