Lot Essay
Cf. the example sold in these Rooms on 30 November 1981, lot 145; see also Hugo Morley-Fletcher, Meissen Porcelain, p. 78.
The genesis of the whole corpus of buildings produced at Meissen in the 1740's as table decoration is discussed and illustrated by Melitta Kunze Köllensperger, Idylle in Porzellan (1996).
The following two lots are examples of her models 16 and 18 modelled by J.G. Ehder in the late 1740's.
Although the fashion for such table decoration was initiated by Count Brühl, these two lots are much more likely to have been associated with the service given to Sir Charles Hanbury-Williams by Augustus II in 1747/48 which included "6 Farmers' houses". Unfortunately these were split up in the 19th century and can no longer be identified with any certainty.
A Meissen model of a thatched cottage
CIRCA 1750, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS
Details
A Meissen model of a thatched cottage
Circa 1750, blue crossed swords marks
With a white chimney with iron-red cowl, cream-coloured thatch and trap-door roof opening revealing the second floor, pink and grey brickwork walls and with a gallant standing beside the open door, on a mound base applied with flowers and foliage (chip to chimney-stack and chips to flowers and foliage)
5in. (12.7cm.) high
Circa 1750, blue crossed swords marks
With a white chimney with iron-red cowl, cream-coloured thatch and trap-door roof opening revealing the second floor, pink and grey brickwork walls and with a gallant standing beside the open door, on a mound base applied with flowers and foliage (chip to chimney-stack and chips to flowers and foliage)
5in. (12.7cm.) high