THE PORCELAIN PROBABLY BÖTTGER, EARLY 1720S, THE DECORATION SLIGHTLY LATER, SILVERED MARK OF SMALL CROSSES BETWEEN EACH ARM OF A DOUBLE LINED X

The present teabowl would appear to be the work of the decorator Joseph Hackl. There are notable similarities to two documentary teabowls and saucers marked with a JH monogram beside three dots above the numerals 37, presumably for 1737. The first, like the current teabowl with silvered ornament, is recorded by S. Ducret in his article 'Joseph Hackl, Hausmaler in der Seuterschen Werkstatt in Augsburg', Keramik-Freunde der Schweiz (December, 1948), Nr. 11, p. 12, pl. 4-5. The other example, formerly in the Arthur Hurst Collection and now in the British Museum, is decorated with Goldchinesen and is illustrated in the British Museum Exhibition Catalogue Documentary Continental Ceramics from the British Museum (London, 1985), no. 21. The painting of birds and the very distinctive fretted diaper pattern pedestal on the BM example is identical to this teabowl.

Little is known of Hackl at Augsburg. Ducret puts him at the fayence manufactory at Göggingen near Augsburg in 1749, were Joseph Hackhl (sic.) is recorded as an 'Augsburger Bürger und Bildhauer' and later at Friedberg from 1754-60.