A large Meissen porcelain cloche from the Möllendorf service
With original ormolu mountings. With "Preußisch-musikalische" relief mouldings. Of domed and scallopped form, decorated with six relief cartouches above a scale-pattern border. The area around the handle painted with large gilt edged "indianische blumen". Blue crossed swords mark to the interior. Minor wear surrounding the handle, localised bare patches in the glaze. H with extended handle 15.4, D of cloche 32.8 cm.
Ca. 1762.
The King presented this service to his General and Comrade Wichard von Möllendorff (1724 - 1816) in 1781, and his name has been associated with the service ever since. The service was originally ordered with cloches for every bowl. Only a few of these still exist, and are kept in Charlottenburg Palace, the Ernst von Siemens-Kunststiftung, and the The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Literature
For this service cf.: Wittwer, "Friedrich der Große und das Meißener Porzellan" (Keramos 208 / 2010, p. 54 ff.). This article cites correspondence between Frederick II from Breslau to the Chamber Commissioner Justus Lorenz from Meissen, beginning in December 1761, with detailed instructions on the design and production of the service.
Cf. also cat.: Triumph der blauen Schwerter, Dresden-Leipzig 2010, no. 294.