A Meissen Porcelain Portrait Cup And Cover Marcolini Period C.1800

A late 18th or early 19th century Meissen portrait cup and cover, Marcolini period (c.1800), in cobalt blue with a possibly unassociated cover, the cup with a portrait of a boy, the cover with a cartouche painting of fishers next to a classical ruin.

Cup: 2.6in (6.6cm) high
Cup with cover: 3.5in (8.9cm) high

Although the cobalt blue cover matches sympathetically with the cup, we suspect it may not be original. There is a little play when it is in place, and the gilding is a different pattern.

Marks: Underglaze Marcolini period Meissen mark to base of cup together with painter’s mark "A".

For similar examples of the portrait cup, see Plate 175, Rontgen, The Book of Meissen, Schiffer, 1996. Meissen portraits also referred to by Jim and Susan Harran, Meissen Porcelain, pg.27, Collector Books: "This type of decoration was very expensive to produce as it was only done by the top Meissen portrait artists".

CONDITION: Cup: Examined under ultraviolet light. No damage or restoration. Gilding worn at rim. Cover: Although the bronze finial works well with the cover, we question whether it is original, although no associated restoration shows under ultraviolet light. Otherwise, no damage.