CIRCA 1740, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS AND GILT TWO DOT MARK TO EACH, THE BOWL WITH DREHER'S QUARTERED CIRCLE, THE SAUCER WITH DREHER'S O

It appears to be still unclear as to how the two Venetian houses of Giustinian and Lolin became one. It is generally held that the families were amalgamated in the 17th century once the Lolin family had died out in 1626, but views vary as to whether the new amalgamated line began through adoption or via a legacy. Further research is therefore needed to establish the individual for whom this service was made. What is clear is that the Giustinian-Lolin Service is part of a tradition of services provided by Meissen for noble Venetian houses, including the Mocinego-Cornaro, often made in honor of marriages or as diplomatic gifts.

Other examples from the same service sold at auction include the coffee-cup and saucer sold Christie's London, 1 March 1993, lot 147, acquired by Horst and Dieter Hoffmeister, exhibited at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, and subsequently sold as lot 92 in The Hoffmeiseter Collection of Meissen Porcelain, Part I, Bonhams London, 25 November 2009 [Meissener Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts, Katalog der Sammlung Hoffmeister (Hamburg, 1999), Vol. II, pp. 506-507, no. 328. and p. 628 for a discussion of the Giunstinian-Lolin family] and the chocolate-pot and cover sold Christie's London, 9 July 2001, lot 208, the Property of a Lady.