This Meissen sugar box and cover would have been part of a coffee or tea set with matching decoration. The panels of delightful miniature Chinese-style scenes or 'Chinoiserie' are typical of the decoration developed by a talented new arrival at the factory in 1720, Johann Gregorius Höroldt. He was an ambitious young man (aged only twenty-three) and was no doubt induced to abandon his position at the rival porcelain factory in Vienna with the promise of improving his fortunes at Meissen. He soon developed a new range of rich colours and created a series of 'Chinoiserie' figure designs for the team of decorators to use and adapt on the different wares.

Höroldt also became an influential force in the Meissen factory's administration and management. He worked at there for forty-four years in total, witnessing many changes over the period. He died in 1775.