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)
Page 1
Prince Elector Friedrich Augustus I, later King Augustus II (1670-1733), also known as Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, (born on 12 May 1670 in Dresden - died 1 February 1733 in Warsaw)
(image source: Wikipedia)
Friedrich August, Frederick Augustus I of Saxony (born on 12 May 1670 in Dresden - died 1 February 1733 in Warsaw) encountered a general enthusiasm for East Asia following the fashion for all things Chinese at other European courts during his Grand Tour, a custom for European princes, to become familiar with the standards of European court life. This enthusiasm was apparently the decisive factor in awakening his passion for porcelain, a precious and exotic luxury product, which finally infected him with the 'maladie de porcelaine'. It was not Augustus who was intended to be the future ruler of Saxony, but his elder brother, Johann Georg. However, in 1694 this brother died unexpectedly and Friedrich August I became Elector of Saxony. To be a ruler of European importance Augustus desperately needed to become a king. In 1696 the Polish king had died, and, because Polish kings were elected by an assembly of the Polish aristocracy, Augustus converted to Catholicism and applied for the crown of Poland. A lot of diplomatic activities were carried out, and a lot of money was spent on Polish noble families to make them to vote in favour of the Saxon elector. Augustus succeeded in his ambition and in 1697 was crowned Augustus II in Warsaw: not King of Poland, but King in Poland - he was generally known as Augustus the Strong - this finally created the prerequisite for his desire to use porcelain as an exotic work of art of the highest order in the representation of his royal splendour and as a demonstration of his power. The large scale purchases (mostly the best and most expensive of what was on the market in Amsterdam and Leipzig) of porcelain consonant with the activities of a collector followed between 1716 and 1718. The legendary exchange of gifts between Friedrich Wilhelm I and Augustus II in which 600 Saxon soldiers were traded for 152 blue enamel pieces of Chinese porcelain from Oranienburg and Charlottenburg is also to be seen in this context. In 1717 Augustus the Strong bought the so-called Holländisches Palais in Dresden, the use of 'Dutch' in the name of this palace does not only refer to the former owner of the palace, the Dutch ambassador, but was intended to refer to the function of the palace as a porcelain palace, the Dutch being synonymous with collecting and displaying porcelain. His precious porcelain was moved to this summer palace. In 1727 Augustus the Strong, began to convert the Holländisches Palais into a gigantic 'porcelain palace' with four wings referred to as the 'Japanisches Palais'. In it oriental porcelain, Meissen porcelain and life size sculptures in porcelain of the animals of Augustus the Strong, were displayed. Augustus the Strong's dream of a magnificent porcelain palace did not die with him. His son August III genuinely attempted to complete the building and its fittings. The demise of absolutism finally imposed considerable restrictions on the excessive entertainments and hectic building activity of the court. An obvious lack of money prevented the continuation of the furnishing of the interiors of the Japanische Palais. Thus the ambitious project of the unique dream palace of the elector-king with the largest and most important porcelain collection in Europe gradually fell into oblivion. In 1763 when August III died, the porcelain was banished to the basement and subsequently innumerable so-called doublets were sold. In 1876 the porcelain collection was given a new home in the former royal picture gallery, the Johanneum. The porcelain which was evacuated in 1942 because of the risk of bomb raids in Dresden, largely survived the Second World War undamaged, but most of it was then transported to the Soviet Union as spoils of war and only returned to Dresden in 1958. In 1962 the newly designed collection was opened in the rebuilt Zwinger Palace Museum. (Ströber 2005, pp.48-57 & Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10 )
The most ambitious project along these lines was never completed: the Japanese Palace at Dresden which Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, planned to decorate, room by room, exclusively with porcelain. Nevertheless, Augustus' great career as connoisseur and collector sums up all the contemporary European interest in the porcelain of China. Porcelain was his consuming passion, and he had the money and power to let his passion rule him. There has never, even in modern times, been a collector of Oriental wares who could vie with him. Augustus owned literally thousands of pieces. Yet in the story of porcelain Augustus has still a greater claim to fame. It was he who ordered the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger to turn his talents from a search for gold by the process of transmutation to a search for the secret of porcelain manufacture. Marvellously enough, Böttger succeeded. Thereafter Augustus could have his own porcelain- the very first hard-paste or true porcelain to be produced in the West- as well as his Chinese pieces, The factory at Meissen, near Dresden, where he established Böttger in 1710, was to prove to be the most brilliant in Europe, unequalled by the many factories that in the course of the century rose in imitation of it. (Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50)
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. Only a few pieces were added after his death in 1733 and in fact it became a 'closed' collection. (Ströber 2005, pp.48-57, Jörg 2011/2, p.52)
Prince Elector Friedrich Augustus I, later King Augustus II (1670-1733), also known as Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, shared the passion for Chinese and Japanese porcelain held by his father, Prince Elector Johann Georg IV (1669-1694). The extensive sums of money they spent on collecting this art, brought the scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus (1651-1708) to refer to the Chinese as 'Saxony's porcelain bloodsuckers'. August II, King of Poland, acknowledged his addiction in a letter to Count Jacob Heinrich von Flemming (1667-1728), the king's Prime Minister and one of the most influential persons at the Dresden court, writing: 'Do you not know that it is the same with the oranges as with porcelain? Namely, that those who have one sickness or the other never believe that they have enough but always feel that they need to have more?'. (Sargent 2012, pp.120-121 & pp.186-187)
From the second half of the seventeenth century the most important cargoes were tea and gold, but increasingly porcelain was seen as a useful and decorative cargo for the new drink of tea tasted at its best from Chinaware, while the garnitures were particularly decorative on great fireplaces such as those at Hampton Court and Burghley and other great houses in England, while on the Continent, Augustus King of Saxony collected it for his mirrored halls and as inspiration for the porcelain factory he supported at Meissen. (Howard 1994, p.15)
The Porcelain Collection of Augustus the Strong, Zwinger, Dresden, Germany.
Dresden owns one of the most important collections of Chinese, Japanese and early Meissen porcelain to the zeal of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (1670-1733).
Collecting oriental porcelain had an important representational function at European courts during the Baroque period. Augustus the Strong had the "Holländische Palais" (Dutch Palace), which was bought in 1717, transformed into a palace for Porcelain in which oriental porcelain was to be displayed alongside Meissen porcelain. Descriptions of the mansion which from 1722 onwards was called the "Japanese Palace" convey an impression of the splendor of the rooms with their oriental lacquer work and precious silk fabric in "indianischen Stil" (Indian style).
The present-day method of displaying oriental porcelain in the arched niches is reminiscent of the original arrangement reflecting the Baroque predilection symmetry. A special feature of the Dresden porcelain collection are the inventories from the 18th century which have been preserved. The oriental porcelain recorded in the earliest inventory from 1721 amounts to more than 22,000 items, of which roughly 8,000 have been preserved. The incised or painted old inventory number can be seen on the back of many of the pieces of porcelain. The King died in the year 1733 before he completion of the "Japanisches Palais" (Japanese Palace) as a palace for porcelain. Despite further acquisitions by his successors, the passionate interest in oriental porcelain was extinguished with the death of Augustus the Strong. The greater part of the porcelain collection whish had bene removed for safe keeping survived the destruction of the Second World War and was transported as spoils of war to the Soviet Union whence it returned in 1958. The installation of the porcelain collection in the Zwinger was followed in the year 1962. (Source: The Royal Porcelain Collection, Zwinger, Dresden, Germany)
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of August the Strong - Page 1
Object 2012465
Bowl
Japan
c.1680-1700
Height 95 mm (3.74 inch), diameter of rim 185 mm (7.28 inch), diameter of footring 85 mm (3.35 inch), weight 511 grams (18.02 ounce (oz.))
Five-petalled bowl on footring, brown edged rim. Kakiemon decorated in enamels with two birds, one in flight the other perched on a branch of a blossoming prunus tree alternating with a rock with bamboo and a pine tree. On the inside two large flowering poppy alternating with two small flowering prunus plants and a butterfly in flight. On the bottom a single leafy flower spray. On the base incised with the Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:19.' and signum '□'.
On the base the incised Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:19.' and signum '□'. This indicates that the bowl was part of the first Dresden inventory (1721), which was titled "Inventarium über das Palais zu Alt-Dresden". The incised number identifies this bowl ad being 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.
(Pictures courtesy: Hart Antiques Amsterdam)
This bowl is now (back) in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered under the number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 9957, please see;
For a similarly shaped and decorated bowl, please see:
Condition: A restored hairline to the rim
References:
SKD Online collection, PO. 9957
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of August the Strong - Page 1
Object 2012541
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 35 mm (1.38 inch), diameter of rim 225 mm (8.86 inch), diameter of footring 127 mm (5.00 inch), weight 450 grams (15.87 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, scalloped everted rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a flowerpot, filled with flowering peony and wisteria plants, on a fenced terrace encircled by a scalloped border with half flower heads in gold on an underglaze blue ground. On the sides six panels, three filled with flowering chrysanthemum and three with kiku's (two double and one single), all in low relief, the edge of the scalloped rim in gold. The reverse with two wides pread fower sprays. Round the outer footring a double concentric band and on the base in a single circle in underglaze blue incised with the Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:44.' and signum '+'.
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 smaller, PO.2952, 198 mm (7.80 inch) and PO.5099 201 mm (7.91 inch), identically shaped and decorated dishes are in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered under the number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 2952 and 9764. For these dishes, please see;
Condition: Two frits a chip and a reglued piece all to the rim.
References:
Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50
Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10
SKD Online collection, PO. 2952.
SKD Online collection, PO. 5099.
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of August the Strong - Page 1
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 '+'.
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:
- Porzellan aus China und Japan. Die Porzellangalerie der Landgrafen von Hessen-Kassel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Kassel, Berlin 1990, p.518, cat. 286.
- Ko-Imari from the collection of Oliver Impey, (Barry Davies Oriental Art, London, 1997), pp. 200-201, cat. 119.
- Mistrovská dĩla Japonského porcelánu / Masterpieces of Japanese Porcelain, (F. Suchomel, Prague 1997), p.109, cat. 104, p.128, cat 156 & p.145, cat 197.
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.210, cat. 354.
- Fine & Curious: Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections, (C.J.A. Jörg, Hotei publishing, Amsterdam, 2003), p.117, cat.126 & p.197, cat. 247 & 247a.
Condition: A firing flaw to the rim. The glaze heavily crackled.
References:
Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50
Suchomel 1997, cat. 104, 156 & 197
Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10
SKD Online collection, PO. 2962
SKD Online collection, PO. 5229.
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of August the Strong - Page 1
Object 2012460
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 31 mm (1.22 inch), diameter of rim 202 mm (7.95 inch), diameter of footring 124 mm (4.88 inch), weight 379 grams (14.99 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, straight slightly everted rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a low jardinière on which a miniature garden with rocks, a small palm tree and a vase filled with flowering peonies and prunus. On the sides and rim flower sprays in gold on a underglaze blue ground alternating with a river scape, a flowering chrysanthemum or peony plants. The reverse with prunus, peony and chrysanthemum sprays. On the base in a double circle in underglaze blue incised with the Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:165.' and signum '+'.
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) 2960 and 2961. For these two dishes, please see;
For another Japanese Imari dishes from the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden, please see:
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50
Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10
SKD Online collection, PO. 2960
SKD Online collection, PO. 2961
Price: Sold.
More pictures of object 2012458 another identically shaped, sized and decorated, sold, dish >>
More pictures of object 2012461 another identically shaped, sized and decorated, sold, dish >>
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Porcelain from the Collection of August the Strong - Page 1
Object 2011829
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 35 mm (1.38 inch), diameter of rim 225 mm (8.86 inch), diameter of footring 127 mm (5.00 inch), weight 450 grams (15.87 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, straight slightly everted rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a flowerpot, filled with flowering iris, wisteria, and peony plants, on a fenced terrace encircled by a narrow border with scrolls in gold on an underglaze blue ground alternating with florets between scrolls. On the sides and rim flowerheads on a dark blue ground with leafy scrolls in gold alternating with flowering pine, iris and cherry plants. The reverse three peony flower sprays. On the base in a single circle in underglaze blue incised with the Palace number (formerly called Johanneum mark) 'N:373.' and signum '+'.
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)
Four identically shaped, sized and decorated dishes (one damaged) are in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered under the number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 2955, 9266, 9310 and 9764. For these dishes, please see;
- SKD Online collection, PO. 2955.
- SKD Online collection, PO. 9266.
- SKD Online collection, PO. 9310.
- SKD Online collection, PO. 9764.
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Goldsmith Phillips 1956, pp.48-50
Pietsch, Loesch & Ströber 2006, pp.5-10
SKD Online collection, PO. 2955
SKD Online collection, PO. 9266
SKD Online collection, PO. 9310
SKD Online collection, PO. 9764
Price: Sold.
create websites