Sugar or Confectionery Box and Cover
ca. 1767-1771 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The box is inscribed 'C.H.Z. 1771', for 'Churfürstliche Hof Zöhrgaden 1771', indicating that it was at that date held in the confectionery storeroom of items used in the service of the dessert at the Bavarian Electoral Court. It may have been used for sugar, or perhaps for stewed fruit. A number of other shell boxes of this type survive with the inscription and date 1771, suggesting that they were disposed along the length of dessert table at grand dinners held at the court.
The shape is precisely copied from a Meissen porcelain covered box, modelled by Eberlein in November 1746 and made for Count Brühl's court confectionery (when it was described as 'Confect-Schaale mit Deckel in Gestalt einer Perl-Muschel zur Gräfl. Brühlschen Conditorey gefertiget': information kindly communicated by Dr Alfred Ziffer).
The Nymphenburg manufactory on the outskirts of Munich was founded as an Electoral Porcelain Factory by the Elector Max III Joseph of Bavaria in 1747. Commercial production of porcelain was achieved in 1754 with the help of Joseph Ringler, an 'arcanist' (workman with knowledge of porcelain recipes, firing and manufacturing processes) who had gained what had originally been Meissen's industrial secrets at the Vienna Porcelain Factory. Nymphenburg is best known for the elegantly contorted rococo figures and sculptural pieces created by Franz Anton Bustelli between November 1754, when he was appointed the factory's master modeller, and April 1763, when he died.
The shape is precisely copied from a Meissen porcelain covered box, modelled by Eberlein in November 1746 and made for Count Brühl's court confectionery (when it was described as 'Confect-Schaale mit Deckel in Gestalt einer Perl-Muschel zur Gräfl. Brühlschen Conditorey gefertiget': information kindly communicated by Dr Alfred Ziffer).
The Nymphenburg manufactory on the outskirts of Munich was founded as an Electoral Porcelain Factory by the Elector Max III Joseph of Bavaria in 1747. Commercial production of porcelain was achieved in 1754 with the help of Joseph Ringler, an 'arcanist' (workman with knowledge of porcelain recipes, firing and manufacturing processes) who had gained what had originally been Meissen's industrial secrets at the Vienna Porcelain Factory. Nymphenburg is best known for the elegantly contorted rococo figures and sculptural pieces created by Franz Anton Bustelli between November 1754, when he was appointed the factory's master modeller, and April 1763, when he died.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels, moulded in relief and gilded |
Brief description | Box and cover of hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels, moulded in relief and gilded, Nymphenburg porcelain factory, Nymphenburg, ca. 1767-1771, inscription added 1771. |
Physical description | Confectionery box and cover of hard-paste porcelain painted with enamels, moulded in relief and gilded. In the form of a large shell, and with shell feet and finial, with a gilt band round the edges. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | 'C.H.Z. 1771' ('Churfürstliche Hof Zöhrgaden 1771')
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Gallery label |
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Object history | Made for the Bavarian Electoral Court Store-room, Churfürstliche Hof Zöhrgaden. Formerly in the C.W. Reynolds Collection. Sold Christie's May 31 1871 lot 493. Purchased from Mr E. Francis. A pair of identical boxes with the same date and initials were offered Sotheby's London 9 March 1954. Another was formerly in the collection of Lady Charlotte Schreiber and its purchase was mentioned in her Journal for 16 November 1881. |
Historical context | See Public Access Description |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | The box is inscribed 'C.H.Z. 1771', for 'Churfürstliche Hof Zöhrgaden 1771', indicating that it was at that date held in the confectionery storeroom of items used in the service of the dessert at the Bavarian Electoral Court. It may have been used for sugar, or perhaps for stewed fruit. A number of other shell boxes of this type survive with the inscription and date 1771, suggesting that they were disposed along the length of dessert table at grand dinners held at the court. The shape is precisely copied from a Meissen porcelain covered box, modelled by Eberlein in November 1746 and made for Count Brühl's court confectionery (when it was described as 'Confect-Schaale mit Deckel in Gestalt einer Perl-Muschel zur Gräfl. Brühlschen Conditorey gefertiget': information kindly communicated by Dr Alfred Ziffer). The Nymphenburg manufactory on the outskirts of Munich was founded as an Electoral Porcelain Factory by the Elector Max III Joseph of Bavaria in 1747. Commercial production of porcelain was achieved in 1754 with the help of Joseph Ringler, an 'arcanist' (workman with knowledge of porcelain recipes, firing and manufacturing processes) who had gained what had originally been Meissen's industrial secrets at the Vienna Porcelain Factory. Nymphenburg is best known for the elegantly contorted rococo figures and sculptural pieces created by Franz Anton Bustelli between November 1754, when he was appointed the factory's master modeller, and April 1763, when he died. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | C.138&A-1911 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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