MEISSEN - Lot 109

MEISSEN Hard porcelain oval dish in the imitation of two trompe-l'oeil leaves applied one on top of the other with polychrome Kakiemon decoration of a tiger surrounding a bamboo and prunus branches in bloom escaping from a stump. On the reverse, crossed sword marks in blue. 18th century, circa 1740. L : 37.5 cm Label of provenance Ursula Riedi in Zurich. Similar model in the Rijsksmuseum, Amsterdam. This shape is inspired by a Japanese model from the Arita kilns, with underglaze blue decoration already known in the second half of the 17th century. One of these Japanese models was acquired in Holland for the Saxon Court in 1723. The tiger-encircling-bamboo design first appeared in Japan on Kakiemon porcelain around 1670, and is one of many variations on this emblematic animal. Copied by the Meissen manufactory as early as 1730, it was later adopted by English manufacturers, notably Bow and Chelsea from 1755.