"Augustus Rex"- Vase mit Vogel- und Insektend... Lot n° 2735

from the possession of the Saxon Elector and King of Poland The body is strongly built on a short stand ring, merging into a narrow, long neck and flaring rim. On both sides of the rim is a large-scale, island-style, naturalistic depiction of a great spotted woodpecker sitting on a towering trunk, grasping a caterpillar with its beak, or a thrush sitting on rocky terrain. Surrounded by scattered butterflies, beetles and other insects. Fine polychrome painting probably by Christoph Gottlob Häntzschel. After ornithological studies by Eleazer Albin. Gold rim. AR mark in underglaze blue. Meissen. Around 1730 - 1740. H. 34,5 cm. Naturalistic depictions of birds in Meissen can be traced back mainly to the figural models of Johann Joachim Kaendler, who designed birds with features typical of nature. The publication "A Natural history of Birds" with colored illustrations of birds and insects by the naturalist Eleazer Albin (1690 - probably 1742), which was published in the 1730s and acquired by the manufactory from the court bookseller Walther in Dresden in about 1745, served as a painting model. Albin also published "A Natural history of English insects" as early as 1720 and "A Natural history of English Songbirds" also in the 1930s. Porcelain from the Meissen manufactory bearing the mark "AR" (Augustus Rex) in underglaze blue was produced exclusively under Augustus the Strong and was reserved for the royal court. They became part of his private collection or served as gifts for international princes and royalty or high-ranking personalities. Evidence shows that the mark continued to be used for porcelains of the royal court even after the death of Augustus the Strong. Notwithstanding this, the FR mark existed for a short time for Elector Frederick August II or as August III King of Poland, son and successor of August the Strong. Cf. Sterba, Meissen Tableware, p. 195; Pietsch, Cat. Triumph of the Blue Swords, no.163f. Provenance: From the former possession of the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. An Augustus Rex vase painted with naturalistic depictions of a great spotted woodpecker and song thrush, surrounded by butterflies and insects probably after Eleazer Albin's writing. AR mark in underglaze blue. Meissen. Around 1730 - 1745.