Meissen Porcelain Tea Caddy with Gotzkowsky Relief, c.1745

An early Meissen hard-paste porcelain tea caddy, made circa 1745. The eight-lobed, or achtpassige, body is moulded with the Gotzkowsky Relief: white flowering and leafy ornament in low relief against the glazed porcelain ground.                                                                                                              The Gotzkowsky decoration was designed in 1741 by Johann Friedrich Eberlein (1695–1749), a leading Meissen modeller who worked at the manufactory alongside Johann Joachim Kändler. It was first created for a service commissioned by the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky and was subsequently used on later Meissen services.                                                                                                                                                                    The caddy is hand-painted with floral decoration in purple, iron-red, yellow, blue and green enamels.                                                                              On the unglazed underside, faint remnants of an underglaze-blue crossed-swords mark remain visible. The mark is worn through mechanical abrasion to the unglazed porcelain surface from use, handling and cleaning. The unglazed base is a normal manufacturing feature of early Meissen porcelain, not a defect: glaze was removed from the firing surface to prevent the piece adhering to the kiln support during firing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The caddy is supplied with a cover painted with a floral bouquet, which does not appear to be porcelain and may be made from a composite material. Its colour and floral decoration are in keeping with the caddy, but it is not original to it.                                                                                        For collectors of early Meissen, this tea caddy combines an Eberlein-designed relief, a named 1741 service pattern and an early documented form.

Dimensions

Height: 12.6 cm
Width: 9.8 cm
Depth: 6.9 cm
Weight: 358 g

Condition

Excellent antique condition. Several short hairline cracks to the unglazed underside; no other cracks, restoration or overpainting.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. Shipping costs include handling, packaging and postage.