Complete Meissen Tea and Coffee Service in its original suitcase

Our 18-piece service in leather case is one of the most representative Meissen porcelain travel services still existing today. It is the only completely preserved tea and coffee service made of early Böttger porcelain with polychrome Chinoiseries, painted and signed by the Augsburg painter Anna Elisabeth Wald, born Auffenwerth, around 1730.

The travel service’s fashion developed with the import of the new hot drinks: tea, coffee and chocolate. At the same time grew a demand of gold and silver toilet travel sets in leather cases. These historic influences almost asked for the presentation of the newly invented porcelain in the equal manner. Déjeuners and entire tea sets were tailor made for leather cases. The initiative came from Augustus the Strong, having the equally new and precious medium of porcelain at his disposal. To enhance the luxurious character and for distinguished presentation, leather cases lined with velvet were made for services, in which each individual piece had its precise compartment. At this point the city of Augsburg came into play, being the centre of gold and silverware craftmanship with custom-made leather cases, and they could also paint porcelain. The families Auffenwerth and Seuter were known specialists here. However, while the Seuters had a contract with Meissen and received porcelains for gold painting, the Auffenwerths had to obtain their porcelain differently.

The Auffenwerths' difficult access to Meissen porcelain is the main reason, why complete services from the Auffenwerth workshop are extremely rare and are preserved seldom. The situation is different with porcelains of the contracted Seuter workshop, which was even prevented from competing with Höroldt’s colourful chinoiseries. Therefore, the Seuters specialised in the topic of gold Chinese decor, where Höroldt needed support during a long time. The Auffenwerths were the only ones who could compete with Höroldt's polychrome painting at that time. As an old-established Augsburg workshop, they had the colour palette, the patterns, the experience and the skill in the field of enamel painting, and they were also masters of the rich Augsburg decorative ornaments, so they were predestined - and the only ones - who could keep up with the Meissen monopoly in the field of coloured Chinoiserie. Our service is the best example of this:

With the mirror monogram Anna Elisabeth Wald, born Auffenwerth branded the service; evidently the painting can be attributed to her. Our service is the highlight within her large œuvre. Anna Elisabeth's domain were the colourful chinoiseries in Höroldt style. She may not have achieved Höroldt's variety and humour. But her strength and unique skill was to condense the chinoiserie scenes à la Höroldt to the smallest of space. With this service - fitting also into the case in the tightest of space – she has further excelled this effect and raised it to a new quality. The service in its case is a showpiece of first order - a magnificent attribute of the splendour and dignity of its owner.

The service consists of:

1. Coffee pot
Height: 19,7 cm / 16 cm (without lid)
Böttger porcelain, underglazed blue, early swords mark, no incised marks
Illustrated in Ducret I fig. 382

2. Tea pot
Height: 14,1 cm / 9,7 cm (without lid)
No swords mark, no incised mark
Illustrated in Ducret I colour plate X after p. 36

3. Bowl
Ø 16,8 – 17,4 cm / Height: 7,6 – 8 cm
No swords mark, no incised mark
Illustrated in Ducret I fig. 384

4. Tea caddy
Height: 11,6 cm / 10 cm (without lid)
No swords mark, no incised mark
Colour illustration frontispiece in Keramos 50 / 1970 p. 3

5. Milk pot
Height: 13.9 cm / 10.5 cm (without lid)
No sword mark, no incised mark
Illustrated in Ducret I fig. 383

6. Sugar box
Height: 7,9 cm
Early underglaze blue swords mark with knobs, no incised mark
Illustrated in Ducret I colour illustration V after p. 10

7. – 12. Six beakers with large saucers
Beakers: All with early, small underglaze blue swords marks with knobs, no incised marks
Height: 7.2 - 7.4 cm / Ø 7.4 - 7.5 cm
One cup illustrated in Pauls-Eisenbeiss p. 387
Saucers: Ø 13.4 cm / Height: 2,6 – 2,8 cm
No sword mark, no incised mark
Illustrated in Ducret I colour illustration IX after p. 32

13. – 18. Six cups with saucers
Cups: Five pieces with underglaze blue sword mark and with Dallwitz’s nail, two of them with large swords marks with knobs, one cup without marks, Height: 4,2 – 4,6 cm
Saucers: Ø 12,5 – 12,7 cm
Two saucers with little underglaze blue swords marks
Illustrated in Ducret I fig. 385

Six gilt silver spoons by Elias Adam with “EA” mark, Augsburg 1731 – 33

Dimensions of the suitcase: 62 cm wide, 46 cm deep, 21.4 cm high