Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Lot 10
A very rare Hanau faience jug probably decorated in Nuremberg by Johann Heel, circa 1680
3 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £9,600 inc. premium
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Raphael Machiels
Associate Specialist
Ghislaine Howard
Sale Coordinator
A very rare Hanau faience jug probably decorated in Nuremberg by Johann Heel, circa 1680
The pear-shaped body with tall flared neck with a pinched spout, loop handle and flared footrim, finely painted in purple camaieu with a drapery festoon tied with three ribbons and hung with fruit, flowers, foliage and scrollwork between scattered insects, with leafy branches draped over teh base of the handle and a berried wreath tied with a ribbon around the neck, the later silver-gilt mounts marked for Charles Thomas Fox and George Fox, London, 1874, 27cm high overall, (faint haircrack to base of handle)
Footnotes
A closely similar jug without mounts in the Victoria & Albert Museum, C.244-1923 that was formerly attributed to Abraham Helmhack. It was published in 1932 in the Burlington Magazine (LX, March 1932, pp. 132-140) by W.B. Honey, who considered that it was probably the work of Johann Heel around 1680. The author noted that the full and slightly stiff flower painting is characteristic of the mid 17th century and can be found in engravings by Nicolas Cochin (1610-1686) that reflect the contemporary fashion for 'Dutch' gardening.
