A Meissen plate, circa 1740-50. Photo: Bonhams.

Painted in Kakiemon style with an iron-red squirrel above another animal perched on banded hedges issuing flowers, the bottom half painted with a chequered brocade pattern with alternating panels of diaper, whorls and stylised flowers, gilt-edged lobed rim, 23cm diam, crossed swords in underglaze-blue, impressed 20 (minor retouching). Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 (€5,000 - 7,400)

Provenance: Anon. sale, Christie's Geneva, 15 November 1980, lot 137

Literature: H. Jedding, Meissener Porzellan aus Hamburger Privatbesitz (1982), no. 126;
U. Pietsch, Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung (1994), no. 74

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-31 January 1994;
Aachen, Museen der Stadt Aachen - Couven Museum, 'Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung', 26 February-20 April 1994

A similar plate in the Dr. Ernst Schneider Collection is published by J. Weber, Meißener Porzellane mit Dekoren nach ostasiatischen Vorbildern (2013), no. 288. Another with a serrated edge was sold in these rooms from the Hoffmeister Collection, Part Two, 26 May 2010, lot 27.

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