CIRCA 1802, BLUE SHIELD MARKS, IMPRESSED DATE CODES FOR 1799, 1801 AND 1802, VARIOUS IMPRESSED LETTERS AND NUMERALS

Details

A VIENNA EGYPTIAN-STYLE CABARET
CIRCA 1802, BLUE SHIELD MARKS, IMPRESSED DATE CODES FOR 1799, 1801 AND 1802, VARIOUS IMPRESSED LETTERS AND NUMERALS
Painted with rectangular gilt-edged panels of hieroglyphs in sepia on a pale-pink ground above circular medallions with figures, some named, the black band borders reserved with a band of flowerheads, the handles and rims richly gilt, comprising:

An oviform coffee-pot and cover in the form of a canopic jar, the upper part with the head and hands of an Egyptian Pharaoh, his crossed hands holding the tails of two snakes forming the handle, the domed cover with a gilt lotus flower finial (cover broken and restuck, restoration to inside rim)
A circular two-handled sugar-bowl and cover, the medallion named MICHAEL in reverse and SATOVIEL, the finial as a gilt sphinx (slight chip to rim of cover)
An oval bowl and cover, one medallion named HON PA TR/BIB flanking a bunch of grapes, with a gilt crocodile finial
Two coffee-cups and saucers, the medallion on one cup named KANOPUS and on one saucer GABRIEL, the handles formed as two snakes (chip to rim of one cup and one saucer, one saucer with slight rubbing to centre)
An oval tray with a pierced gallery formed as interlocking ribbon about a band of leaves, the centre with a circular reserve with classical figures about an Egyptian monument (approximately one third of pierced rim broken and restored)
The tray 17 in. (43.2 cm.) wide

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

A part tea and coffee-service with identical decoration was sold in these Rooms on 6th December 2004, lot 478. Another cup and saucer, most probably from the same service, is in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence, and is illustrated by Sheila K. Tabakoff, The Viennese Porcelain at Palazzo Pitti (Florence, 2002), p. 172, where Tabakoff points out that the medallions depicting figures were derived from ancient amulets which were engraved and published in Bernard de Montfoucon's 1757 Griechische und Römische Altertümer. Tabakoff suggests that the hieroglyphs could have been derived from Piranesi's Diverse Manniere d'adornare I cammini ed ogni altra Parte degli Edifizi (Rome, 1769).

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