Lot Essay
Frederick Augustus III, Elector of Saxony, who was later to become Frederick Augustus I, King of Saxony, was the eldest surviving son of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony and his wife Princess Maria Antonia of Bavaria. His father had succeeded in 1763 but died only three months later. As Frederick Augustus III had not yet come of age, a regency was set up with his mother and his uncle sharing the role of Regent until 1768 when Frederick turned 18.
Frederick married, in 1769, the Countess Palatine Maria Amalia Augusta of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, sister of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. During their marriage, Amalia gave birth to four children, but only one daughter survived to adulthood. Fredrick Augustus was created King of Saxony in 1806 and Duke of Warsaw in 1807. When he died in 1827, without male heir, he was succeeded as King of Saxony by his brother Anton.
In commissioning the 'Silver Service with FA in Shield' Frederick followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Frederick Augustus III, King of Poland (1699-1763) who lavished large amounts of money on commissions for the Saxon Royal collection. As King of Poland his grandfather ordered the 'Doppelt Matt Vergoldete Service, using existing silver from the Dresden hofsilberkammer for its creation (Christie's, London, 16 November 2010, lot 351). The 'Silver Service with FA in Shield', named after the engraved initials under the base, was initially ordered in 1772 and added to at various times during the remainder of the 18th century.
The inventory of the court silver prepared in 1774 records nearly 50 categories of objects and underlies the vastness of the service. For example it records that 200 tafelteller (dishes for the table) were ordered from Carl David Schrödel in 1772, with a further 164 ordered in 1780 and another 36 in 1782. As Carl David Schrödel had died in 1773 these later orders were undertaken by his sons and widow, who carried on working for the court at Dresden.
Additional candlesticks from the service numbered 57 and 59, identical in design to the present four, were sold Christie's, London, 27-28 November 2012, lot 629.
Frederick married, in 1769, the Countess Palatine Maria Amalia Augusta of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld, sister of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. During their marriage, Amalia gave birth to four children, but only one daughter survived to adulthood. Fredrick Augustus was created King of Saxony in 1806 and Duke of Warsaw in 1807. When he died in 1827, without male heir, he was succeeded as King of Saxony by his brother Anton.
In commissioning the 'Silver Service with FA in Shield' Frederick followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Frederick Augustus III, King of Poland (1699-1763) who lavished large amounts of money on commissions for the Saxon Royal collection. As King of Poland his grandfather ordered the 'Doppelt Matt Vergoldete Service, using existing silver from the Dresden hofsilberkammer for its creation (Christie's, London, 16 November 2010, lot 351). The 'Silver Service with FA in Shield', named after the engraved initials under the base, was initially ordered in 1772 and added to at various times during the remainder of the 18th century.
The inventory of the court silver prepared in 1774 records nearly 50 categories of objects and underlies the vastness of the service. For example it records that 200 tafelteller (dishes for the table) were ordered from Carl David Schrödel in 1772, with a further 164 ordered in 1780 and another 36 in 1782. As Carl David Schrödel had died in 1773 these later orders were undertaken by his sons and widow, who carried on working for the court at Dresden.
Additional candlesticks from the service numbered 57 and 59, identical in design to the present four, were sold Christie's, London, 27-28 November 2012, lot 629.