A pair of Meissen hares

On 1st October 1753 ten hares were listed in the inventory of Count Brühl's Konditorei. A similar pair of hares were sold in these Rooms on 7th October 1996, lot 456, and a single example was sold on 7th July 1997, lot 367. Also see Rainer Rückert, Meissener Porzellan (Munich, 1966), no. 1176 and R.J. Charleston, 'Meissen and other European Porcelain', The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddeston Manor (1971), p. 174, no. 60.

Special Notice

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Pre-Lot Text

THE ALEXANDER GUTTMANN COLLECTION

The following 78 lots (lots 142-220 inclusive) are from the Alexander Guttmann Collection, formed by Axel Guttmann (1944-2001) for his son Alexander. Axel Guttmann was a passionate collector of Meissen porcelain, fine wine, furniture, paintings and arms and armour, both from Antiquity and the Medieval period.

Axel Guttmann was born in Krems, Austria, but grew up in Berlin after the Second World War. He was a patron of the Berlin museums for over 25 years, supporting projects, publications and purchases, as well as lending items from his collection to exhibitions in both Germany and Austria.

Eight volumes of his arms and armour collection were published by Philipp von Zabern before Axel Guttmann's untimely death on 28th October 2001. His porcelain collection was published by Melitta Kunze-Köllensperger, 'Alexanders Tiere', Sammlung Axel Guttmann (Berlin, 1999), and this is referred to throughout as the 'Guttmann Catalogue'. Unless otherwise stated, the models in this collection are almost certainly modelled by J.J. Kändler.