"Walzenkrug" Tankard with Chinese Figures. Meissen. Circa 1730. Photo Van Ham

Porcelain, enriched in colours and gold. Silver lid and mountings. Smooth, cylindrical form. Loose, gold lace border along the brim. Wide landscape border along the display side, with a three-dimensional edge. Two large, seated Chinese figures shown painting porcelain vases. Another Chinese figure on the left shown carrying a large tray of unpainted vases and vessels on his shoulder. Indian flowers beside the handle, which is decorated with an ornamental border. 
Hinged lid with large, spherical pommel and gadrooned relief along the edge. An "achtbrüdertaler" is set into the center, dated 1608. Height 19,5cm. Zustand B/C. The brim is slightly rough. 
Very faint crossed swords mark. Silver: Indistinct mark, maker's mark "IW". Hinge marked on the inside with house mark and dated 17(...). Estimation : 16 000 / 20 000 €

Provenance: Private collection, southern Germany. 

Literature: Rückert, Rainer: Meissener Porzellan, München 1966, pg.77, nr.184. Lidded tureen with Chinoiserien (Munich, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Inv.-Nr.Ker 1668/1669) - a further example of the depiction of Chinese porcelain painters. 

This rare motif of Chinese porcelain painters is based largely on details from folio 80 of the Schulz-Codex. For example, the figure carrying further vessels on his shoulder, which can be found on this folio on the left side of the lowest register. The figure decorating a club-shaped vase slightly lower down on the edge of the folio is also depicted on the tankard, albeit with some of the details changed.

Van Ham. Samedi 17 novembre 2012. Schönhauser Str. 10-16, 50968 Cologne. Tel.  +49 221 92 58 62-4.