An extremely rare graduated set of four Meissen Böttger porcelain vases and four covers, circa 1715.  photo Bonhams

Modelled by Johann Jacob Irminger, of baluster shape, in three sizes, each with applied caryatid masks and elaboratedly moulded prunus branches, the serrated leafs lifting off the background in part, the branches and most of the blossoms modelled three-dimensionally, comprising a central vase and domed cover, two flanking vases with one domed cover, and one small vase with two domed covers, all covers with similar applied branches, 32cm, 28cm and 23cm. respectively, (one cover with restoration to the edge of the rim of the cover) (8). Lot 69. Sold for £44,450 

Provenance: The Busca Collection, Villa Serbelloni, Como, acquired in the 18th and 19th century,
By descent to the present owners

Although individual elements of the applied decoration, such as the masks, stiff-leaf borders and applied leaves and flowers, are familiar on Böttger porcelain, no other examples of these forms appear to be recorded in the literature and the survival of a garniture, albeit no longer complete, is of the utmost rarity.

Garnitures of Böttger stoneware and porcelain vases, sometimes including figures, were used to furnish the palaces of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and Warsaw, most notably the Japanese Palace in Dresden. Numerous such vases are recorded in the inventory of Augustus the Strong's collection in Dresden begun in 1721 with additions to 1727 (published by I. Menzhausen, Böttgersteinzeug Böttgerporzellan (1969), pp. 36ff), as well as in the list of Meissen stoneware and porcelain sent from Dresden to Warsaw in 1713 (published by M. Cassidy-Geiger, The Arnhold Collection of Meissen Porcelain 1710-50, appendix 2, pp. 773-781).

It is most likely that this garniture, too, was made for Augustus the Strong, and left the royal collection later. The first recorded such instance is the well-documented large gift of porcelain from Augustus the Strong to Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia (most recently discussed by M. Cassidy-Geiger, Princes and Porcelain on the Grand Tour of Italy, in Fragile Diplomacy (2007), pp. 209ff). The gift included garnitures of porcelain vases of the same early period as this garniture that were drawn from Augustus' collection (documented in the inventory begun in 1721, published by I. Menzhausen, Böttgersteinzeug Böttgerporzellan (1969), pp. 36ff), as well as specially commissioned porcelain.
The inclusion in of porcelain from Augustus' own collection would have conferred special distinction on an already precious gift (Cassidy-Geiger, op.cit., p. 210).

Bonhams. 23 May 2012 10:30 a.m. London, New Bond Street. Fine European Ceramics