Maker: Meissen Manufactory
Period: Marcolini Period (1774-1814)
This beautiful Meissen teapot is vividly painted with rare scenes of war, most likely depicting Prussian invasion of Saxony. One oval painting shows cavalry in the heat of battle. A drum lies on the ground beside its slain bearer. On the other side of the teapot, a hussar in a tall fur hat is about to strike with his sword a farmer kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy with clasped hands. In the distance are what appear to be his cattle.
The teapot dates from Meissen’s Marcolini period, named after Count Camillo Marcolini, who held important positions under Frederick Augustus, the Elector (and subsequent king) of Saxony, and was named director of the royal porcelain works at Meissen in 1774.
In the previous thirty years, Saxony had twice been invaded by Prussia and the Meissen factory, near the Saxon capital of Dresden, had ample experience of the miseries of war. In the Second Silesian War (1744-45), fought between Frederick the Great’s Prussia and Maria Theresa’s Austria, Frederick’s army had occupied and pillaged Meissen. On August 27, 1756, a Prussian army of 70,000 troops marched into Saxony at the start of the Seven Year’s War. In December 1759, a ferocious battle was fought at Meissen in which Austria prevailed over a larger Prussian army. One year later, Prussia again seized the factory and Frederick sold off all the stock of the Meissen showrooms for 120,000 thalers to a wealthy merchant. Frederick then leased the factory back to a Saxon official, kept increasing the rent, and demanded that Meissen supply him with porcelain free of charge. Beyond the normal privations of war, residents of Meissen were pressed into Prussian service. Saxon women were taken to remote provinces of Prussia and compelled to marry Prussian farmers. Skilled Meissen workers were forcibly sent to Berlin and made to work for Frederick. In July 1760, he retaliated against Austrian resistance with an artillery bombardment of Dresden that destroyed many of its most beautiful buildings.
From the Coldwell Collection
Condition Generally in good order. Finial has been restored and re-gilded. Minor chipping to the rim of the cover has been restored and re-gilded. Minute flaking, in a few places, to the gilding of the narrow outer band around the paintings.
Marking Painted in underglaze blue enamel on the underside are crossed swords with an asterisk below the crossguards. This mark was used during the Marcolini period. There is also an impressed shape number (Pressnummer) 83.
Height: 12.4 cm; Length, spout to handle: 17.3 cm
Net weight: 353 g
Medium: Hard-paste porcelain
Origin: Meissen, Saxony
