A Hot Chocolate Pot from the St. Andrew Service, Meissen, 1744-1745

of baluster form and molded with Gotzkowsky erhabene Blumen, the spout realistically shaped and painted as a woman's head, with scrolled, gilded handle, painted with floral sprays and with the Imperial Russian State Seal and the Cross of the Order of St. Andrew, the rim with gilt trellis pattern rim, set on a circular foot with molded and gilded shell and scroll decoration

Galerie Popoff, Paris
Christie's London, October 12, 2009, lot 178

Shedevry russkogo farfora XVIII veka iz sobraniia galerei "Popov i Ko.," Moscow, 2009, pp. 320-321.

some slight rubbing to gilding on lip of spout and with slight chip to underside of foot
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The Meissen St. Andrew Service was the largest diplomatic gift the august factory ever produced and demonstrates the key role that unimaginably rare and luxurious porcelain table services played in the complicated diplomatic relations of the eighteenth century.  The service holds a central place in the history of European porcelain, for it was among the earliest official services to be produced in Europe, and was the first full table service at the Russian court extensive enough to fulfill the ever more complex requirements of European dining customs and court table etiquette. On this service, see L. Liackhova, "The Andrew Service," in U. Pietsch et al, Meissen for the Czars, Dresden, 2004, pp. 66-85 and "In a Porcelain Mirror: Reflections of Russia from Peter I to Empress Elizabeth," in Fragile Diplomacy: Meissen Porcelain for European Courts, ca. 1710-63, New Haven and London, 2007, pp. 73-79.