An early Meissen beaker and saucer, 1713-15. Photo: Bonhams.

Each applied with three moulded prunus branches, the beaker with a double footrim, the saucer: 14.1cm diam.; the beaker: 7.9cm high, incised Japanese Palace inventory number N=397-/ W to both, incised / inside footrim of beaker (2). Estimate £4,000 - 5,000 (€5,000 - 6,200)

Provenance: The Royal collections of Saxony, Japanese Palace, Dresden;
Martha L. Isaacson Collection, Seattle, sold by Sotheby's New York, 22 May 2001, lot 177

The 1770 inventory of the Japanese Palace records: 'Sieben Dutzendt und (9)8. Stück detto Chocolaten Becher, mit belegten Blümgen, ohne Henckel, 3½. Zoll hoch, 3¼. Zoll in Diam: nebst Drey Dutzendt und 6. Stück dazu gehörigen Unterschaalen, 1¼. Zoll tief, 5½. Zoll in Diam: No. 397, einige defect' [Seven dozen and 8 ditto chocolate beakers with applied flowers, without handles [...] along with three dozen and 6 matching saucers...].

Two similar beakers with the same inventory number are in the Wark Collection (U. Pietsch, Early Meissen Porcelain The Wark Collection (2011), nos. 27-28, and four more remain in the Porzellansammlung in Dresden (one illustrated together with a Chinese, Dehua, example by U. Pietsch, Meissener Porzeelan und seine ostasiatischen Vorbilder (1996), p. 23).

Bonhams. FINE EUROPEAN CERAMICS. London, New Bond Street, 18 Jun 2014 - http://www.bonhams.com/