Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Lot 80
A pair of rare and early Vienna porcelain footed cups with salamanders, circa 1744-49
3 July 2025, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £896 inc. premium
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Raphael Machiels
Associate Specialist
Ghislaine Howard
Sale Coordinator
A pair of rare and early Vienna porcelain footed cups with salamanders, circa 1744-49
Each painted with scattered flower sprays and modelled with a salamander or lizard wrapped around the cup, the foot moulded with rocailles and edged in puce, 6.8cm high, impressed shield marks, impressed "L" and "42." in purple to one (the cups restuck with small losses) (2)
Footnotes
Originally derived from ancient Chinese jade and bone objects, and later, porcelain, the salamander or lizard motif entered the stylistic lexicon of European ceramics in the eighteenth century, as trade with the Far East brought many such objects to the continent's courtly capitals. Handles modelled as salamanders can be seen on early Meissen, Du Paquier and Doccia wares (Claudia Lehner-Jobst and Andreina d'Agliano (eds.), Baroque Luxury Porcelain, 2005, p. 325). A rare Du Paquier tankard with salamander handle is in the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg (inv. 1914.289 a,b), and another was sold in these Rooms, 5 June 2013, lot 55.
