Rare Meissen water jug with Kakiemon decor

The fact that there is no underglaze blue swords mark (but traces of an overglaze one) on the bottom makes clear that the present jug was part of the so called ‘Count Hoym / Lemaire complex’. The sales program for the Parisian market includes water jugs from its beginning. Even Lemaires’ order list from 22.12.1728 (published by Weber I, p. 106 fn. 131) mentions water jugs on 3rd position: ‘Specification / models which were ordered in the manufactory by Monsieur (…) No. 3: 1 dozen of water jugs.’

In order of the Parisian merchant Lemaire the water jug was made in two different sizes. The ‘small water jug’ (our model) with a height of ca. 15,3 cm is very rare. We only know one further example:

• Collection Syz, without swords mark, with scratched ‘Johanneumsnummer’ ‘N:80W’ and a later tin lid. (Shono fig. 88 with its model of Japanese Arita porcelain. Today presumably in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; cf. Weber II pp. 198/99 = Sotheby’s 04.07.1967, no. 238, bought from APC (Antique Porcelain Company)

The water jug traces back to an Arita model from the beginning of the 18th century. A corresponding piece was in the Collection Syz (Shono fig. 88), which is today in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Weber II p. 199, fig. 34). We presume that this jug was also part of the collection of Augustus the Strong as well as many other pieces, which were copied in the order of Lemaire. Höroldt’s model list mentions such a water jug under the inventory number ‘N=77-□’ (= ‘old indian’): ‘One water jug with lid, no. 77.’ Following this model Höroldt made a template for his workshop to realize Lemaire’s orders.