A Böttger Meissen Hausmaler coffee pot and hinged cover, circa 1722, with contemporary German silver-gilt mounts, Elias Adam, Augsburg

decorated in gilding in the Seuter workshop, Augsburg, with vignettes of chinoiserie figures resting on scrollwork supports with birds in flight above, the front of the coffee pot painted in enamels with the armorial of Prince Marc de Beauvau, Prinz von Craon, the cover with three gilded vignettes of figures, with gilded scroll borders to the rims,

Sotheby's London, 17th March 1987, lot 298, sold alongside a pair of armorial cups and saucers and an écuelle, cover and a stand from the same service, lots 299 and 300.

Ulrich Pietsch, Preziosen, einer süddeutschen Kunstsammlung, 2001, p. 56

Comparative Literature

Maureen Cassidy-Geiger, Princes and porcelain on the Grand Tour of Italy, Fragile Diplomacy, Meissen Porcelain for European Courts ca. 1710-63, 2007, pp. 221-222

Some typical wear to the gilding, particularly to the lower handle terminal, to the finial, spout and footrim. Some typical wear to the gilt chinoiserie decoration.Minor wear to the silver-gilt.
"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."

A second écuelle, cover and stand from this service and of the same form is in the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ob. no. G83.1.793.1-.3, previously sold in The Maurice de Rothschild Collection, his (anon.) sale, Christie's London, 28th March 1977, lot 67.

The arms belong to Prince Marc de Beauvau-Craon, Grandee of Spain, Knight of the Golden Fleece and Grand Ecuyer of Tuscany (29 April 1679-10 March 1754). Born in Nancy, he was the son of Louis de Beauvau, Marquis of Beauvau and Lord of Craon (1638–1703) and his second wife, Anne de Ligny. On 16th December 1704 he married Anne Marguerite de Lignéville (1686–1772), Countess of the Holy Roman Empire, in Lunéville. They had eight sons and twelve daughters. His wife Anne Marguerite was the mistress of Leopold, Duke of Lorraine.

In 1722 Emperor Charles VI granted him the dignity of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and Prince of Craon and in 1739 the Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. On the 8th May 1727 Philip V of Spain awarded him the title Grandee of Spain. He resided in Florence until he retired in 1749 at the age of 70. He was governor of the regency council of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany for Grand Duke Francesco, later Holy Roman Emperor, who had been declared successor of the last Medici ruler in the Treaty of Vienna. He ruled Tuscany as Viceroy and his descendants ruled, and resided in the Grand Duchy until 1859.