White glazed porcelain with polychrome and gilt painting
Germany, circa 1750
Meissen porcelain manufactory
Underside with blue crossed swords, press mark ‘40’ and incised cross
Fine figural scenes after Watteau
Sculptural flowers and fruits
Dimensions (with cover): 19 x 11 x 7 cm
Good condition
Provenance: German private collection
A Meissen porcelain caddy painted in the finest manner with gallant figural scenes by Watteau – a museum-quality piece!

This white glazed porcelain tea canister and cover, decorated with polychrome painting, was made by the renowned Meissen manufactory and dates to around 1750. The caddy of arched rectangular form is adorned with a wide, gold-rimmed purple border and painted with colorful scenes after the French Rocco painter Jean-Antoine Watteau. The scenes depict typical Rococo motifs; romantic scenes with courting couples in an Arcadian landscape. The shoulders are adorned with sculptural blossoms and fruits. A cover with a plum knop finial sits on the raised neck. The porcelain tea caddy is an extraordinary piece of museum quality!



The porcelain caddy is in good condition. Some of the flowers show minor chips, the neck shows two fine firing cracks (hidden by the cover). The unglazed underside bears the blue crossed swords mark, a press mark ‘40’ and an incised cross. The caddy including cover measures 19 x 11 x 7 cm (height x length x width).



Meissen

Porcelain has been available in Europe since the 13th century, but it had to be imported from China. It was mostly of low quality, too, and came at a high price, because the Chinese seldom gave their best wares to foreigners. Europeans tried to copy Chinese porcelain for centuries. 1708 brought success – high quality porcelain could finally be manufactured in Europe; in Meissen. The manufacturer’s mark, the crossed swords in blue, has been in use since 1722 and it is still a symbol of the highest quality porcelain. Meissen celebrated its 300 years anniversary in 2008. Quality has always been the number one priority for Meissen. They have their own quarry, where they source kaolin, also known as china clay, for their production. It takes several years to attain the title of a ‘master painter’ at Meissen. This level of professionalism is clearly evident in the remarkable quality of painting on Meissen porcelain.