A rare early Meissen Böttger stoneware coffee pot with lacquered decor
Red Böttger stonware, dark brown glaze, matte gold and reddish brown lacquer decor applied with brush and sponge. Four-sided model with spout of square section issuing from a fish's mouth; faceted curved handle. With prunus sprig reliefs on two faces picked out in matte gold and reddish brown inner contours. Similar decor to the spout and handle with two insects. Associated square lid, historically documented. White lacquer inventory nos. L 974.1.120 A and B (lid). A crack in the lower section of the handle, two milimeter sized chips to the front of the base. H with finial 15.5 cm.
Around 1710 - 15, model by the court goldsmith Johann Jakob Irminger, decor attributed to Martin Schnell.
This object is outstanding for its extremely well-preserved original lacquer paintwork, which is attributed to the Dresden court painter Martin Schnell. Schnell had already given convincing samples of his skills to the Saxon King August II in 1703, but was not officially hired until January 22nd 1710. His work mainly consisted of carrying out lacquer work for the interior design of the king's ambitious building projects. From around 1711 to 1715, Martin Schnell was also employed at the porcelain factory and received the highest salary of all paid there, more than double what the inventor of the mass and arcanist, Johann Friedrich Böttger, received.
This jug model appears in the Meissen Manufactory's inventory as of 1711 under no. 241: "24 Coffe Krügel". Claus Boltz assigns it to the Turkish coffee pots, which were intended either as display objects or actually for enjoying Turkish mocha. In the Dresden Porcelain Collection there are still 17 examples of this pot in Böttger stoneware of varying colour, some with carved decoration, but none with lacquer.
Provenance
Former collection of Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655 - 1729), in family ownership until very recently.
Literature
This model with a domed lid and varying surface decor in Boltz, Steinzeug und Porzellane der Böttgerperiode – Die Inventare und die Ostermesse des Jahres 1719, in: Keramos 167/168/2000, illus. 84 ff.
See also Bursche, Meissen. Steinzeug und Porzellan des 18. Jahrhunderts. Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, Berlin 1980, cat. no. 10 f., two examples in matte red Böttger stoneware with carved decor.
See also Syz/Jefferson Miller II/Rückert, Catalogue of the Hans Syz Collection, vol. I, Washington 1979, cat. no. 1.
See also Cassidy-Geiger, The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain 1710 – 50, New York-London 2008, cat. no. 106.
See also Pietsch, Early Meissen Porcelain. The Wark Collection, London 2011, cat. no. 6.