A rare Meissen Salt or Spice Holder, circa 1740-50
Supported on three baroque scrolled feet with frauenkopf terminals, Altozier-moulding on the rim, beneath which are painted ombrierte Holzschnittblumen, insects and cloves. Modelled by Johann Friedrich Eberlein (1695-1749). The rim is enamelled with a chocolate line.
The use of cloves in decoration not only suggests the intended use for this vessel, but also hints at expensively imported spices, indicating the wealth of the owner.
Crossed swords mark in blue.
Provenance: The Rohde-Hinze Collection, Berlin.
Condition: Clay tears to the body, firing cracks to the base, and small minor manufacturing blemishes. There is is a minute frit to the rim and also a small flat chip to the unglazed underside of one of the scroll feet. No other damage and no restoration.
Dimensions: Height 9.2 cm
Ref. For a pair of salts of this design, but with handles to the basket, see Sotheby’s, New York, May 24, 2007 (lot 386). Rainer Rückert, Meissener Porzellan, pl.123, no.487, illustrates an armorial salt of this form from the Sulkowski service, for which the shape was originally designed, and on p.116 cites several entries for the modelling of the form in Eberlein’s work records for 1736.
Meissener Porzellan (1710-1810): Ausstellung im Bayerischen Nationalmuseum München, Rainer Rückert (Hirmer, 1966).
18th-Century German Porcelain, George Savage (Rockliff, 1958).