THE POLITICS OF PORCELAIN: Nicolas de Largillière’s (1656-1746) portrait of Conrad flying tables from Saxony were sent to Prussia and to Detlef (1688-1753), Count von Dehn, the envoy for the France.10 Carved amber from the Baltic was sent all PREVIEW OF AN EXHIBITION Duke of Brunswick, in the suit he wore for his audience over Europe by the kings of Prussia, the most extrava- with Louis XV (1710-1774) in 1724, he is shown with gant being the amber room given to Peter the Great in by Maureen Cassidy-Geiger the miniature portrait of the Duke in a jeweled frame, 1716 at the signing of the Russo-Prussian alliance against Curator, The Arnhold Collection destined for the King, displayed in its fitted leather case Sweden.11 A set of Spanish stallions accompanied the (Fig. 1).5 Also depicted is the letter from Louis XV remarkable gift of six differently coloured saddles addressed to the Duke, and the two books of engrav- embroidered in silver and gold sent with pistols to ings from the French King, Médailles de Louis le Grand Augustus the Strong in 1715 by Louis XIV of France.12 In his dedication to The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli and Perspective de Versailles after Israël Silvestre. An (1469-1527) wrote: “Those who strive to obtain the engraving of a portrait of Louis XV in a jewelled frame good graces of a prince are accustomed to come belongs to the historical print collection in the Meissen before him with such things as they hold most precious, archives, demonstrating how the designs for these types or in which they see him take most delight; whence one of objects circulated (Fig. 2). Such models supplied often sees horses, arms, cloth of gold, precious stones, information and ideas to the painters and modellers and similar ornaments presented to princes, worthy of and were also used in the drawing studio where the their greatness.” The exhibition Fragile Diplomacy: apprentices were trained. Meissen Porcelain for Foreign Courts, 1710-1763, sched- Objects of exquisite workmanship, in precious or uled to open in October 2007 at the Bard Graduate exotic materials, were presented to the Electors of Center in New York, poses the question, ‘How did Saxony from the 16th century onwards. Unmounted Meissen porcelain function as an object of diplomatic gems were much esteemed as royal gifts, for example currency in the 18th century, from the founding of the the sapphire nodes from Peter the Great (1672-1725) manufactory in 1710 until the death of Augustus III in and the cluster of emeralds from South America, 1763’? presented by Rudolf II to the Elector of Saxony in 1581 Porcelain was first produced in Asia in the 8th and mounted in 1724 by Balthasar Permoser (1651- century and by the 16th century, a small number of 1732), Johann Melchior Dingliner (1664-1731) and pieces of Chinese porcelain were the treasured posses- Martin Schnell (1675-c.1740).6 Swords were exchanged sions of emperors, kings and princes in Europe, gifts between princes; a Tula-work sword was presented to from courtiers and ambassadors seeking influence and Augustus the Strong by the Russian Czar in 1697.7 favour at court. Some of these gifts became royal Figure 1. Studio of Nicolas de Largillière. Portrait of Conrad Objects of personal workmanship were especially tributes from one European monarch to another and Detlef, Count von Dehn. 1724. Oil on canvas; 92 x 73 cm. suitable gifts from one ruler to another, and so Peter (Photo courtesy Sotheby’s) so sixteen pieces of Chinese porcelain entered the the Great presented turned ivory boxes with royal Kunstkammer in Dresden in April 1590, a gift from compasses to the Elector of Saxony and to the King of Grand Duke Ferdinand de Medici (1549-1609) to present day, with the exception of medals. Most snuff- Denmark.8 Figure 2. Anonymous engraving with portrait of Louis XV in a jeweled frame surmounted by a crown. Historical Collection, Elector Christian I of Saxony (1560-1591), a gift of one boxes were simply converted into cash by the diplo- Native animals and objects made of indigenous State Porcelain Manufactory, Meissen, inv. nr. VA-1553. King’s property to another.1 mats who received countless examples. Some precious materials as well as examples of local craftsmanship or At the time, porcelain was valued for its rarity but it gifts were returned to the King on the death of the even local comestibles were also suitable diplomatic Antiquities and reliquaries were the specialty gifts of was not an intrinsically valuable material and this distin- recipient and were re-used as a gift for someone else, gifts because they represented the uniqueness of the the Pope and the clergy in and around Rome. In 1739, guishes it from the more traditional types of princely or or the gemstones were retrieved for other purposes foreign monarch’s property and realm. Greenland- during his long stay in the Holy City, the crown prince diplomatic gifts, such as those named in Machiavelli’s The tradition of diplomatic gifts involved bestowing falcons from the King of Denmark and hunting dogs of Saxony, Friedrich Christian (1722-1763), received a statement (that is, the “horses, arms, cloth of gold, precious upon kings, courtiers and retainers objects of a prede- from England were especially prized, as were wines mosaic from Hadrian’s villa, incorporated into a stones and similar ornaments”).2 Gold snuffboxes, termined value, in tribute or thanks. Reciprocal gifts from France and Austria, and cheeses from Italy. Every tabletop, from Cardinal Alessandro Albani (1692-1779) jewelled swords, medals in gold and silver, and portraits were to be of equal value. Protocol required more nation had its speciality workshops. A masterpiece of and an antique sculpture of a gladiator from the of the ruler framed with gold and gemstones were the expensive or rare gifts for more important persons and carving by Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) was sent by Cardinal’s brother, Annibale Albani (1682-1751).13 He norm in this category.3 Known chiefly through archival there was a hierarchy in terms of who could receive the English king Charles II to Cosimo III de Medici also received dozens of reliquaries which were later documents and contemporary reports, very few of what. The ambassadors received snuffboxes, for (1642-1721) in 1682. Pietre dure plaques were sent to installed in the Silberkapelle in the Taschenberg Palace, these sorts of precious gifts have survived to the example, while their secretaries received medals.4 In Dresden by Rudolf II and, later, by Cosimo III.9 So-called his residence in Dresden. The Blessed Order of the ICF&S-2006 28 29 ICF&S-2006 the French diplomatic correspondence, in 1735 and fired enamel colours or in gold (Fig. 4).19 Conceived as 1741, to efforts to obtain the secret for making hard- showpieces rather than as functional objects for daily paste porcelain through intrigue and payoffs.16 In Italy use, such services were sent in customised leather and France in particular, several glassy soft-paste porce- boxes with velvet interiors trimmed in silver or gold lain-like products preceded the discovery of the braid. There was a specific trade who made these fitted formula and the special ingredients for making true boxes; according to the manufactory reports, a group of porcelain at the court of Augustus the Strong (1670- fitted boxes delivered to the Meissen factory in 1737 1733), the ambitious Elector of Saxony who succeeded were all made by women, each termed a “Futteral- his brother in 1694 and won the Crown of Poland in macherin”.20 1697. The prestige associated with being the owner of The standing cup with cover and stand secretly deliv- the first porcelain manufactory in Europe distinguished ered to Queen Sophie Dorothea of Prussia by Augustus the King and his court and the porcelain made at the Strong in 1728 is nearly unique as a Meissen model Meissen quickly achieved the status of “white gold.”17 and in the use of a highly personalized scheme of Made of the King’s earth, in the King’s factory, by the decoration.21 Somewhat similar is the personalized King’s artists and artisans, the products of the Meissen decoration on the tea-and-coffee service made for manufactory were a tangible demonstration of the Clemens August, Prince-Bishop of Cologne (1718- scientific acumen and mercantile strength of the nation. 1761), though there is no evidence to suggest it was a Focused experimentation over several years led to gift.22 the production of a repertoire of models that Over time, a standardised repertoire of gifts devel- Figure 4. Coffee and tea service in fitted box. Meissen porce- embodied the artistic and representational traditions of lain, c.1724-25, gilded decoration applied in Dresden or oped at Meissen. Services for tea, coffee and chocolate the court of Saxony. Initial inspiration was provided by Augsburg. Arnhold Collection, New York, inv. nr. 1931.226 were popular gifts, perhaps beginning with the service (Photo: Maggie Nimkin) the thousands of Chinese and Japanese porcelains for the Electress of Hanover.23 Armorial services went amassed by the King, who sought to emulate the porce- to the Kings or Queens of France, Denmark, and lain cabinets of the French and Prussian Kings. Actual Leipzig for the fairs, held three times a year, to view and Sweden, and to Pope Benedict XIV. The numerous Asian porcelains were copied faithfully in the factory’s buy luxury products from the leading workshops and services with Italian coats of arms acknowledge the Figure 3.