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Lot Essay
The present service is one of a few extant examples, each varying slightly in coloration but all of the highest standard of production. Indeed, so prized were these services decorated en mosa<->ique that they were included in the biannual fine arts exhibitions of p[aintings and sculpture held at the Berlin's Royal Academy of Visual Arts and Mechanical Sciences.
Several artists are recorded as having produced these services after the Antique, including the Malereidekorationsvorgesetzte or director of the painting Maywald workshop, who exhibited such wares at the Academy five times between 1802 and 1812. The painters Randow, Christenfeld, Rhotig and Dumoulin each exhibited once within the same ten-year span. Unfortunately, as the factory's records are incomplete, it is impossible to confirm the artist responsible for the present example. See Helmut Borsch-Supan, Die Katalogue der Berliner-Akademie Ausstellungen 1786-1850, Berlin, 1971, vol. I; Erich Köllman, Berliner Porzellan 1763-1963, Braunswick, 1966, vol. II, tafel 191a for a cup and saucer similar in shape and decoration to the present example.
Another similarly decorated tête-à-tête is known. It is now in a fitted casket made from the 17th century French hardstone panels and raised on an elaborate stand. It was sold by this estatein 1832. Acquired by Charles Agar, 1st Earl of Narmanton, it remained in the family until the early years of the 20th century.
A Berlin cabinet cup and saucer decorated with the same brazier as on the present service, the interior of the cup and the saucer in imitation of lapis lazuli, was sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 16/17 November 1999, lot 412
Several artists are recorded as having produced these services after the Antique, including the Malereidekorationsvorgesetzte or director of the painting Maywald workshop, who exhibited such wares at the Academy five times between 1802 and 1812. The painters Randow, Christenfeld, Rhotig and Dumoulin each exhibited once within the same ten-year span. Unfortunately, as the factory's records are incomplete, it is impossible to confirm the artist responsible for the present example. See Helmut Borsch-Supan, Die Katalogue der Berliner-Akademie Ausstellungen 1786-1850, Berlin, 1971, vol. I; Erich Köllman, Berliner Porzellan 1763-1963, Braunswick, 1966, vol. II, tafel 191a for a cup and saucer similar in shape and decoration to the present example.
Another similarly decorated tête-à-tête is known. It is now in a fitted casket made from the 17th century French hardstone panels and raised on an elaborate stand. It was sold by this estatein 1832. Acquired by Charles Agar, 1st Earl of Narmanton, it remained in the family until the early years of the 20th century.
A Berlin cabinet cup and saucer decorated with the same brazier as on the present service, the interior of the cup and the saucer in imitation of lapis lazuli, was sold anonymously, Christie's, New York, 16/17 November 1999, lot 412