Lot Essay
For a similar foliate finial, inspired by French forms, see Michael Unterberg, Fruhes Furstenberger Porzellan, Hamburg, 2010, p. 165, no. 252. As part of a political agreement between Napoléon Bonaparte and Friedrich, Duke of Württemberg, Napoléon’s youngest brother, Jérôme, became King of Westphalia, an artificial province which included the Dukedom of Brunswick. At this time L.V. Gerverot (previously at Sèvres, Wedgwood's and other factories) was the manager at Fürstenberg. He favoured the neo-classical style and the factory also produced wares which were influenced by French deigns. Gerverot secured Jérôme's patronage but when Friedrich cleverly betrayed Napoléon in 1813, Jérôme lost his throne, the Dukedom of Brunswick was restored and Gerverot lost his job at Fürstenberg.