Vienna Porcelain, 18th Century.

Striking Viennese porcelain piece in the shape of a jug, placed on a pedestal made of the same material. The figure is fully decorated by hand. This piece bears a hallmark at the base which certifies it is real 18th century Viennese porcelain. The Vienna porcelain factory was founded in 1718 by Claude de Paquier, an Austrian government official of Dutch descent. This factory was the second one in Europe to make hard paste porcelain. The first one was in Meissen, Austria, and to open the Viennese factory de Paquier had the collaboration of artisans from the Meissen factory. Viennese porcelain is characterized by its great finesse and quality, and also by the great golden decorations that decorate the pieces. This figure is a good example of Viennese porcelains beauty. It represents an elegant jug sitting on a square pedestal. The whole figure is hand-decorated with a lot of borders, classical patterns and scenes. The golden color is predominant in the porcelain, and it looks as vivid and shiny as it was when the porcelain was made. The pedestal is divided in several horizontal parallel strips, each one painted with different classical borders in gold, brownish red, light blue, yellow and black. The jug is separated from the pedestal by a square white piece. Both sides of the jug are painted with Baroque scenes, one of them mythological and romantic and the other depicting a group of women bathing a baby in a river. Between the scenes, the porcelain is decorated with classical horizontal borders in the same style as the pedestal. The top of the jug is quite appealing, showing an elegant silhouette and a very rich decoration. The plant-like handle is enameled in gold, and the neck and mouth bear vertical leaning strips in ivory and black colors, decorated with small golden motives. This luxurious decoration is more interesting if we consider the fact that was hand-painted by some great artists of those times. If we turn the figure upside down, inside the pedestal we will find a blue hallmark belonging to Vienna porcelain from the 18th century. We are surely looking at a collectors piece, as beautiful as interesting, which will be the focus of attention in any room. Measurements: 110 mm width x 380 mm height.