A rare silver-mounted Böttger stoneware black-glazed octagonal tea canister and cover, circa 1710. Photo Bonhams

Each facet with possibly later wheel-cut decoration of large chinoiserie figures, the cover of cylindrical form and with a single insect incised to the top, the silver mount around the foot with stiff leaves, 13.5cm high (2). Lot 67. Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000 / €12,000 - 18,000 / US$ 16,000 - 24,000

Provenance: European private collection

The technique of incised or wheel-cut decoration through the glaze to expose the red body beneath was described as early as 1710 in the Leipziger Zeitung of 4th May: '...dergleichen Geschirre vorhanden / welche dunckel glasuret / in solcher Glasur aber künstlich geschnitten sind, daß der Schnitt ihre natürliche rothe Farbe zeiget' [on the same wares, which have a dark glaze, but which are artificially cut into the glaze so that the cut displays the natural red colour] (quoted by H. Jedding, Meissener Porzellan im Hamburger Privatbesitz (1982), no. 3). In 1710, twenty-seven glass polishers and cutters were employed to work on Böttger stoneware (Jedding, ibid.). Geometric and ornamental patterns and decoration are the most common result and, given the rarity of figural subjects, it is possible that the incised decoration was executed on this piece at a later date, possibly in a glass workshop.

The silver mount is marked for the Augsburg goldsmith Tobias Baur (or Bauer), who is listed as a 'Gold arbeiter' in the personnel list of the Meissen manufactory in 1710. In 1711, Baur received a consignment of stoneware with a value of 463 talers 8 groschen to sell on commission in Augsburg, although he managed to sell a total value of only 33 talers, so the rest was returned to Böttger in February of 1712 (R. Rückert, Biographische Daten der Meißener Manufakturisten des 18. Jahrhunderts (1990), p. 79).

 Bonhams. 23 May 2012 10:30 a.m. London, New Bond Street. Fine Meissen Porcelain from a Private Collection