Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of Prince Elector Friedrich Augustus I, later King Augustus II (1670-1733), also known as Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, (12 May 1670 in Dresden - 1 February 1733 in Warsaw)

Object 2011307

Dish

Japan

1700-1720

Provenance: Formerly part of the Dresden collection formed by Friedrich August or August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and inventoried between 1721 and 1735

Height 42 mm (1.65 inch), diameter of rim 279 mm (10.98 inch), diameter of footring 153 mm (6.02 inch)

Dish on footring, flat rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a stylized 16-petal chrysanthemum crest, (kiku no mon), drawn with double red outline filled with gold, reserved on a circular underglaze blue ground. The petals are decorated in gold, iron-red and iron-red with gold. Those in iron-red show a lozenge diaper pattern (tasuki). Those in red and gold show designs of a vine or a flowering chrysanthemum. On the sides and rim four groups of flowering plants, chrysanthemum alternating with hydrangea. On the reverse a continuous flowering chrysanthemum scroll. A double concentric band around the foot. On the base in a double circle in underglaze blue incised with the Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:163.' and signum '+'.

2011307

The incised number identifies dishes like these as part of the collection of Friedrich August I, The Strong, Elector of Saxony later August II, King of Poland, which he amassed in Dresden. Only a few pieces were added after his death in 1733 and in fact it became a 'closed' collection. (Jörg 2011/2, p.52)

A special feature of the Dresden Porcelain Collection is comprised by the surviving eighteenth century inventories. The first inventory from the year 1721 (Inventarium über das Palais zu Alt-Dresden), mentioned above lists both the porcelain displayed at the Japanese Palace and the acquisitions till 1727. The porcelain was allocated to different groups, given a number and described briefly, giving measurements. The number was incised or painted on the bottom of the object. In order to distinguish the different groups a 'signum', or symbol, was added to the number. (Japanese porcelain had the signum of a cross). Besides information of the individual pieces, we find in the inventory remarks regarding circumstances of acquisitions ad losses. (Ströber 2005, pp.48-57)

Two identically shaped, sized and decorated dishes are in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered under the number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 2962. For these dishes, please see;

For a dish with a similarly large central chrysanthemum, please see:

Condition: A firing flaw to the rim. The glaze heavily crackled.

References:

Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50

Kassel 1990, cat. 286

Howard 1994, p.15

London 1997, cat. 119

Suchomel 1997, cat. 104, 156 & 197

Impey 2002, cat. 354

Ströber 2005, pp.48-57

Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10

Jörg 2011/2, cat. 47

Sargent 2012, cat 34 & 86

SKD Online collection, PO. 2962

SKD Online collection, PO. 5229.

Price: Sold.