An extremely rare Vincennes teapot and cover circa 1747-49

théière ronde in Meissen style with a tau handle and bird's head spout, painted with a continuous riverside scene including an elegant couple, the cover with further landscapes in miniature, attached with a white metal chain and mounts, cracked

Purchased from H.E. Backer Antiques, October 1953, for £65.

There is a long hairline crack running from below the handle to the right through the river and up the side of the pot approximately 16cm long. This crack has a branch which forks further to the right close to the footrim in the centre of the side, around parallel with the footrim under the spout and diagonally up through the centre of the opposite side ending in the tall tree. On the exterior there is a further branch forking off to the left before the crack reaches the tree. There are some fine scratches to the glaze and a little rubbing to the puce enamels at the base of the handle.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The shape of this teapot closely follows a Meissen prototype.  For a similar teapot in the Musée National de Cèramique (minus a cover) see Tamara Préaud, Porcelaines de Vincennes, 1977, p. 134, no. 400.  The decoration is very similar to that on a jug and basin illustrated by Tamara Préaud, La Porcelaine de Vincennes, 1991, p. 140, no. 83.  Another teapot of this shape was sold in these rooms 4th June 1996, lot 44.  A variant on this shape with a plain spout and looped handle is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, see Christopher Maxwell, French Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century, page 43.