Meissen Double Perfume Bottle "supplier To The Monastery", Circa 1750

Meissen Porcelain "Provender for the Monastery" double scent bottle c.1750.

Height: 3ins (7.5cm)

A Franciscan monk smuggles a lady friend hidden inside a sheaf of corn into the monastery. He carries a goose in his left hand and a basket of eggs in his right. Believed to have been inspired by a print with the same title, satirical art poking fun at non-protestant Christianity was common in protestant areas of Europe and a way to display one’s protestant credentials. Underglaze blue mark to base under floral decoration.

There are several versions of stoppers used for the bottle at the top of the sheaf. We believe the butterfly is not only original but also one of the most attractive.

Literature: "Scent Bottles", Kate Foster, 1966. Pg 82 and Plate 74. "Scent and Scent Bottles", Edmund Launert, 1974. Plate XXVI.

CONDITION: With many small parts, this example is in remarkably good condition compared to others we have seen. There are some minor losses to the petals of the flowers on the sheaf of corn and to its tips and possibly to the edge of the egg basket. Apart from that, all we could find, including under ultraviolet light, was a very small patch of retouching to the brown glaze of his right shoulder, and some rubbing to the glaze of the back of his hood.

Shipping/Import: Free to most destinations. EU customers, PLEASE NOTE: Our price for this item includes all shipping and import costs (customs duty, clearance fees, and VAT). For other destinations, please inquire. Please note that, due to customs procedures, it may be necessary for the buyer to pay the import fees, in which case we will issue an immediate refund of them.