Two rare deep "Salami" plates

Our deep saucers are a small sensation in the field of Salami porcelains. They are the only known deep saucers of this type. Like their flat counterparts, they were not part of a formal service and were therefore not plates in the strict sense, but rather served as magnificent (under)saucers for equally splendid small tureens or Wochenschüsseln (weekly bowls), whose decorations complemented but did not exactly match each other (cf. our expertise on Olio pots).

Meissen preferred deep saucers for slightly taller Écuelle forms (cf. our KPM sugar bowl with a deep Salami saucer). These taller forms are significantly rarer, which explains the greater rarity of this Salami type.

We date our saucers to 1726/27. Interestingly, one of the two saucers features delicate gold elements within the cartouches—unlike all other known Salami saucers, in which chinoiserie cartouches contain no gold elements at all. Until mid-March 1726, this would have been impossible for all Höroldt chinoiseries, as gold painting was exclusively executed by George Funcke and his Dresden workshop up to that point (see our appendix 1726 – The Turning Point in Meissen Gold Painting).

From this time onward, gold decoration came from Höroldt’s workshop, immediately unfolding in full splendor. Initially, gold accents within the cartouches were introduced cautiously—it took some time before gold painting found its place within chinoiserie scenes.