Sebastian Kuhn
Department Director
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Lot 44
An extremely rare Meissen double flask, circa 1725-30
3 December 2020, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£50,000 - £70,000
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Nette Megens
Head of Department, Director
Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
An extremely rare Meissen double flask, circa 1725-30
Of bulbous shape with two outwards curving necks, on a small circular foot, decorated in underglaze-blue with flowering shrubs, scattered insects and leaves, the foot and rims with geometric borders, 21.5cm high, crossed swords mark in underglaze-blue, incised x inside footrim for J.D. Rehschuh
Footnotes
Literature:
U. Pietsch, Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung (1993), no. 62
Exhibited:
Lübeck, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck - St. Annen-Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 14 November 1993-31 January 1994;
Aachen, Museen der Stadt Aachen - Couven Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 26 February-20 April 1994
This form is described in an 18th-century inventory of Augustus the Strong's collection as 'Eßigkrug mit doppelten Hälsen' [vinegar jug with double necks]; in China, such double-flasks were used in marriage rituals, with the bride and groom drinking from the same vessel, each with their own spout. It is possible that the Chinese example was made for the European market (J. Lessmann, Porzellan Glanzstücke der Sammlung des Museums für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (2006), p. 31).
This form is based on a Chinese Kangxi example that was acquired for Augustus the Strong after July 1725 and is still in the Dresden porcelain collection (inv. no. PO 2339, published in Meissener Blaumalerei aus drei Jahrhunderten, exhibition catalogue (1989), no. 3). Only two other Meissen examples of this form are recorded: one is in the Dresden porcelain collection (inv. no. PE 5582, published in Meissener Blaumalereri aus drei Jahrhunderten (1982), no. 75); another is in the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg (inv. no. 1886.15, published by Lessmann, loc. cit.).