A porcelain cup with a rare Russian genre scene - image-1

Lot 241 Dα

A porcelain cup with a rare Russian genre scene

Auction 1169 - overview Berlin
24.04.2021, 11:00 - Prussian Sale
Estimate: 2.500 € - 3.000 €
Result: 3.250 € (incl. premium)
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A porcelain cup with a rare Russian genre scene

With an associated but matching saucer. Painted with an unusual scene of a Jewish man petitioning a landowner in an interior with a bust of Tzar Alexander I over the mantle. Chips to the feet.
The porcelain Russian or Bohemian/Czech, Schlaggenwald/Horní Slavkov, c. 1820.

We consulted with Thomas Gräfe from the Centre for Anti-Semitism Research of the TU Berlin for more information about the depiction:
"The scenery resembles contemporary depictions of negotiations between princes and so-called court Jews. The clothing and furnishings, however, point more to the lower nobility or bourgeoisie. The scene can thus probably be interpreted as a trade negotiation between a Jewish second hand dealer or cattle trader and the lord of the manor. The similarity to the court Jew scenes was probably deliberate, chosen in order to enhance the sitter's own status. (...) It can be assumed that the cup was commissioned by one of the persons depicted on the right."