Porcelain flute case with rocaille relief, decorated with flowers and fruit mounted à cage in gilt brass ordered by Frederick the Great of Prussia (1712–1786), c. 1760 (porcelain), resp. 1761 (mounts)

Exhibited by trias Art Experts

Material Hard-paste porcelain with polychrome and gold decoration; gilt brass, engraved; wood; red silk and velvet lining (replaced)

Dimensions 16.2 × 31.2 × 22.4 cm

Place of Creation Meissen/Dresden

Price Available upon inquiry

Status Vetted

About the Work

The large rectangular porcelain case and cover, moulded with gilded cartouches and painted with floral and vegetal motifs is mounted in gilt brass. The domed cover has gilt foliage and strapwork (‘Laub- und Bandelwerk’) and dentil borders. The contemporary Dresden gilt brass à cage mounts are engraved with rocailles, trellis-work and musical instruments, the cover is fitted with a pierced Rococo cartouche and a floral double-scroll bail handle.

King Frederick the Great, a passionate and accomplished flautist and composer, commissioned the Meissen manufactory to produce this flute case in 1760, during the Seven Years’ War, presumably for his own use at Sanssouci Palace near Berlin. The case was mounted in Dresden in 1761 and afterwards delivered to Potsdam.

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Provenance

Potsdam, probably Sanssouci Palace, King Frederick II of Prussia (1712-1786); New York, Jack and Belle Linsky collection; Southern German private collection

View artwork at TEFAF Maastricht 2026

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trias Art Experts Porcelain flute case with rocaille relief, decorated with flowers and fruit mounted à cage in gilt brass ordered by Frederick the Great of Prussia (1712–1786), c. 1760 (porcelain), resp. 1761 (mounts)