A Berlin (K.P.M) porcelain 'micro-mosaic' tea and coffee service, circa 1823-32

of octagonal form, painted with scenes of 'micro-mosaic' Italian ruins in landscapes alternating with 'lapis-lazuli' and pietra dura panels, with tooled and matted-gilt panels, and further iron-red pietra dura panels comprising: a teapot and cover, a coffeepot and cover, a sugar box and cover, a milk or cream jug, and three cups and saucers, sceptre marks in underglaze-blue, printed K.P.M and eagle marks in manganese

The collection of Princess Alexis Dolgorouki (1850-1919), Nashdom House, Burnham, Buckinghamshire;
With H. Blairman & Sons, London (paper receipt);
acquired from the above by the grandfather of the present owner in August 1925 for £7, 10.;
Thence by descent.

RELATED LITERATURE
Erich Köllmann, Berliner Porzellan, 1763-1963, Band II, Braunschweig, 1966, pl. 191;
Dr. Samuel Wittwer, Refinement and Elegance: Early Nineteenth-Century Royal Porcelain from the Twinight Collection, New York, 2007, pp. 190-195.

In overall exceptional appearance. The saucers with some typical light scratching to the gilding of the wells, consistent with use. One saucer with two minute flakes to gilding, one saucer with a minute flake to gilding. The cover of the sugar bowl, slightly ill-fitting. The coffee pot with a repaired and re-gilded flat chip to the top edge of the spout, and a minute flake to the gilding of the cover. The teapot with a minute rim chip to the edge of the spout. One cup, with a consolidated or repaired chip to the lower terminal of the handle and an associated hairline crack around the handle, some minor wear to gilding around lower frieze of cup.
"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."

This spectacular service is a tour-de-force in porcelain painting and is in the highest standard of production. 'En mosaique' decoration was held in such high regard that it attracted Royal favour. An order for Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia was placed on 20th January 1818 for a six-part déjeuner, 'Gemalt mit Vögel en mosaique in erh{abenen} Gold eingef{aßten} Schildern auch Vaschen in florent{iner} mos{aik} in blauen Schildern nebst mehrerer reicher Vergoldung, innerh{alb} die Becher auch Saanekanne Glanzgoldfond.', [decorated with birds en mosaique in raised gold framed shields, also vases in Florentine mosaic in blue shields as well as much rich gilding, inside the beakers and cream jug also brilliant gold ground.]¹

Of the forty faux micro-mosaic scenes which appear on this service almost all can be identified as being taken from engravings in the two-volume work by the publishers J. Mérigot and R. Edwards, A select collection of views and ruins in Rome and its vicinity : recently executed from drawings made upon the spot.² A publication was released in London in 1815 though the plates date to between 1796-1798. An example is still preserved today in the K.P.M archive. 

Prince Alexis Dolgorouki (1846-1915) came from a long and distinguished noble family in the direct line of descent from Prince Dolgorouki of Suzdal. He was the Chamberlain to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and received the Cross of St. George during the Russo-Turkish war. The Princess Dolgorouki was born Frances Fleetwood Wilson (1850-1919). She was the only child and heiress of the rich industrialist, Mr. Fleetwood Pellew Wilson of Wappenham Manor, Northamptonshire. The pair married in July 1898 in a two-part celebration at the Russian Embassy Chapel and at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey.

Nashdom
When built, Nashdom, the Romanised Russian meaning "our home", was described as having 'the spirit of Versailles' and being reminiscent of 'the great Roman palaces'.³ It was designed for the Prince and Princess by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1908-1911.

A comparable service depicting 'micro-mosaic' panels of birds from the property from the Royal House of Hanover was sold at Sotheby's Munich, 5th October 2005, lot 2376. A further service with birds and green pietra dura panels was sold at Christie's London, A Century of Berlin, 1st May 2002, lot 110 and was subsequently sold at Lempertz, Berlin, 3rd May 2017, lot 353.

_{[1] Quoted, Dr. Wittwer, op. cit., p. 190.
[2] It is interesting to note how the painters at the K.P.M adapted prints or engravings when transferring scenes to porcelain. The painter's sometimes chose to copy only part of a print to best fit the available space.
[3] 'Nashdom Taplow, The residence of H.H. Princess Alexis Dolgorouki.', Country Life, Vol. XXII - No. 817, 31st August 1912, pp. 292-298.}