Live Auction 1126Centuries of Style
A MEISSEN ARMORIAL OVAL MONTEITH FROM THE SWAN SERVICE
Lot 23

A MEISSEN ARMORIAL OVAL MONTEITH FROM THE SWAN SERVICE

CIRCA 1740, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 28

Closed4 June 2013

Price Realised

GBP 151,875

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A MEISSEN ARMORIAL OVAL MONTEITH FROM THE SWAN SERVICE
CIRCA 1740, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK, PRESSNUMMER 28
Modelled by J.F. Eberlein, the exterior moulded to simulate a shell, each side applied with a central cartouche heightened in gilding and bearing the Brühl coat-of-arms, flanked by pendant swags of flowers, fruit, crayfish and shells, each end with a neried handle issuing from reeds, the nereids with long hair and bifurcated tails, entwined with foliage and each holding a flower garland, the upper rim moulded with cascading water and alternating with gilt scallop shells (one nereid handle broken through lower part and restored at base of handle, the other with replaced tail fin, both with small chips and restoration to nereid hands and to foliage, small chips and some restoration to reeds, shells, crayfish, flowers and foliage, some wear to gilding)
8 in. (20.4 cm.) high, 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide

Specialist note

For an example of this form, completed in July 1740 and attributed to Johann Friedrich Eberlein, see Walter Fellmann et. al., Schwanen service, Meissener Porzellan für Heinrich Graf von Brühl, Exhibition Catalogue, Dresden, 2000, p. 169, no. 45, where reference is made to the description in the factory records: '1 grossen Eisstopf für Exc. Brühl ganz wie eine Muschel mit 2 Henkeln von Sirenen, 2 Schildern und oben mit 8 Muscheln besetzt'.

A damaged Swan Service monteith was sold in these Rooms on 10 July 2007, lot 147. Further examples include those sold by Sotheby's London on the 15 November 1955, lot 69; 11 April 1972, lot 193 and 16-17 October 1989, lot 281.