A Vienna Sorgethal topographical cup and saucer, circa 1800 (rest rim chip)
Click here to see more images.
205
A Vienna Sorgethal topographical cup and saucer, circa 1800
Painted with rectangular medallions of titled ruinous landscapes, framed by bands of tooled raised gilding reserved against a pale yellow ground, 13.5cm diam the saucer, 6cm high the cup, shield mark in underglaze-blue, incised 800, 39 to the cup (restored rim chip) (2)
Sold for £2,500 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Provenance:
    Ralph Bernal Collection, sold at Christie's, 5 March 1855, lot 175 (together with another cup and saucer listed as 'One with monkeys and cats; and one, Vienna, with Roman ruins', for 3l. purchased by Jackson and Graham)

    The source of the decoration on the cup is almost certainly taken from the engraving 'Tombeau de Theron a Agrigente', pl. 490 by Jacques-Joseph Coiny (1761-1809). The work was included in the volume "Voyage Pittoresque ou déscription des Royaumes de Naples et de Sicilie". Published in Paris in 1788 this monumental work consisted of five volumes with 542 engraving by the greatest artists of the day. Theron (died 473 BC), son of Aenesidamus, was a Greek tyrant of the town of Acragas in Sicily.

    The decoration of the saucer comes from an engraving entitled 'Vue des Ruined du Temple d'Esculape à Agrigente, inscribed with, 'Dessinee par Despex. Gravee par Bertheaux'.

Category: Decorative Arts / European Ceramics

Auction terms and conditions

Contacts

Sebastian Kuhn Bonhams
Work
101 New Bond Street
London, W1S 1SR
United Kingdom
Work +44 20 7468 8384
FaxFax: +44 20 7468 8252
Specialist - European Ceramics