A MEISSEN SILVER-GILT MOUNTED TANKARD AND COVER

CIRCA 1722-1726, PROBABLY PAINTED BY J.G. MEHLHORN, MOUNTED AT AUGSBURG BY ELIAS ADAM, THE COVER AND FOOTRIM MARKED

Details

A MEISSEN SILVER-GILT MOUNTED TANKARD AND COVER
Circa 1722-1726, probably painted by J.G. Mehlhorn, mounted at Augsburg by Elias Adam, the cover and footrim marked
Of cylindrical form with strap handle, finely painted beneath a band of gilt Laub-und-Bandelwerk with a staghunt beside a waterfall, reserved within an elaborate gilt and Bttger lustre cartouche enriched with delicate scroll and strapwork in iron-red and iron-red lustre, moths, butterflies, a snail, a caterpillar and a beetle flanking the handle, the center of the domed cover finely painted with a landscape within a gilt band, the border in colours with flower scrolls suspending drapery swags and fruit and a further gilt band of identical Laub-und-Bandelwerk, the silver-gilt cover mount as chased stiff leaftips, the hinge with shell thumb rest, the footrim undecorated
8in. (20.3cm.) high

Lot Essay

The present tankard is one of very few recorded examples which retain their original porcelain covers. All are cylindrical with domed covers and flat central roundels.

The tankard formerly in the collection of Judge Irwin Untermyer and now in that of The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a mate to the present example - painted in the same hand with similarly proportioned European landscapes within virtually identical gilt and painted borders. Cf. Yvonne Hackenbroch, Meissen and other Continental Porcelain, Fayence and Enamel, the Collection of Irwin Untermyer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1956, no. 142, plate 94

A third example, formerly in the collection of Jrge Nelte, was sold by Christie's London, 12 October 1995, lot 96. Although similarly decorated, it is painted with Chinoiseries by J.G. Hroldt and therefore relates less closely to the present example than does the Untermeyer tankard. Also with Chinoiserie decoration is the example sold at Sotheby's London, 14 March 1967, lot 128.