.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Leonard IV of Harrach was created Baron of the Holy Roman Empire in 1550 by King Ferdinand I; his grandson, Charles 3rd Baron, was created Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1627 by Ferdinand II; the great-grandson of the first Count, Francis Anthony Harrach, Archbishop of Salzburg, was created Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1706 by Emperor Joseph I. In the eighteenth century, Buonaventura Count of Harrach was Imperial Ambassador in Spain, and his son was Viceroy of Naples from 1728-33.
The family also founded one of the most important glass factories in Bohemia in 1712, the Harrachov glasshouse at Novy Svet (Neuwelt). From 1764 the factory produced milchglas (milk-glass), which was made translucent white by the inclusion of arsenic and tin oxide. Glass of this milky colour had first been made in Venice in the hope that it could be developed as an imitation of, and possibly a substitute for, Chinese porcelain. Indeed, in eighteenth century Potsdam, it was called porzellanglas. At Harrachov such glass was decorated with cold enamels.
This version of the 'tobacco leaf' design is unusual in that it is the only version, excluding 'pseudo tobacco leaf', which does not have underglaze blue and gilt leaves. 'Tobacco leaf' vases of this massive size, often referred to as 'soldier' vases, are extremely rare. Compare the pair of large baluster vases and covers, 62cm. high, with very similar decoration, which are in the Swedish Royal Collection, illustrated by J. Wirgin, Fran Kina till Europa, 1998, p.107, no.112.
The family also founded one of the most important glass factories in Bohemia in 1712, the Harrachov glasshouse at Novy Svet (Neuwelt). From 1764 the factory produced milchglas (milk-glass), which was made translucent white by the inclusion of arsenic and tin oxide. Glass of this milky colour had first been made in Venice in the hope that it could be developed as an imitation of, and possibly a substitute for, Chinese porcelain. Indeed, in eighteenth century Potsdam, it was called porzellanglas. At Harrachov such glass was decorated with cold enamels.
This version of the 'tobacco leaf' design is unusual in that it is the only version, excluding 'pseudo tobacco leaf', which does not have underglaze blue and gilt leaves. 'Tobacco leaf' vases of this massive size, often referred to as 'soldier' vases, are extremely rare. Compare the pair of large baluster vases and covers, 62cm. high, with very similar decoration, which are in the Swedish Royal Collection, illustrated by J. Wirgin, Fran Kina till Europa, 1998, p.107, no.112.