A rare Meissen octagonal teabowl and saucer, circa 1730. Photo: Bonhams.

Painted in Kakiemon style with scattered flower-heads and leaves around a central mon of iron-red chrysanthemums reserved on a purple foliate ground, the saucer: 13.3cm across, incised / inside footrims, incised Japanese Palace inventory numbers N=352-/ W (2). Estimate £12,000 - 15,000 (€15,000 - 19,000)

Literature: U. Pietsch, Frühes Meissener Porzellan aus einer Privatsammlung (1993), no. 69

Exhibited: 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 1770 inventory of the Japanese Palace lists: 'Siebenzehen Stück detto [Caffeé-Tassen], etwas kleiner, nebst Unterschaalen, 1¼. Zoll tief, 5. Zoll in Diam: No. 352' [seventeen ditto (coffee cups), somewhat smaller, along with saucers...] (quoted by C. Boltz, Japanisches Palais-Inventar 1770 und Turmzimmer-Inventar 1769, in Keramos 153 (1996), p. 58). A similar teabowl and saucer, both marked with caduceus mark, were sold in these Rooms, 20 March 2013, lot 20. Another is in the Margaret M. and Arthur J. Mourot Collection, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1983), cat. no. 59.

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