A Meissen octagonal sake bottle, circa 1729-31. Photo: Bonhams.

Painted in Kakiemon style with flowering bushes of chrysanthemums and peonies, smaller vignettes of flowers and insects in flight, the neck with gilt-edged panels of pendent foliate scrollwork, 22.5cm high, crossed swords mark in blue enamel (miniscule flat rim chips, very minor wear). Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 (€12,000 - 19,000)

Literature: H. Jedding, Meissener Porzellan aus Hamburger Privatbesitz (1982), no. 107;
U. Pietsch, Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung (1993), no. 71

Exhibited: Hamburg, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, 'Meissener Porzellan aus Hamburger Privatbesitz', 4 June-5 September 1982;
Lübeck, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck - St. Annen-Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 14 November 1993-31 January 1994;
Aachen, Museen der Stadt Aachen - Couven Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 26 February-20 April 1994

The Japanese model for this sake bottle was removed from the collection of Augustus the Strong in the Japanese Palace between the end of November 1729 and early April 1730 to be copied at Meissen as part of the order for the Paris merchant Rudolph Lemaire. One of the first Meissen examples, which was to serve as a model for subsequent copies, has survived in the Dresden Porcelain Collection and still bears traces of the black-painted inventory number of the Japanese original (illustrated by J. Weber, Meißener Porzellane mit Dekoren nach ostasiatischen Vorbildern, vol.II, pp. 130f., ills. 26a-b).

Two similar Meissen octagonal bottles are in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, published by A.L. den Blaauwen, Meissen Porcelain in the Rijksmuseum (2000), no. 143, where the author also lists other published examples.

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