The Dresden Vases.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19248, 9 December 1930, Page 7

The Dresden Vases.

LATE CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —In Saturday night’s “Star” th< re was an inquiry from the Rev J. K. Archer as to the age and value of two covered vases. In last night’s “Star” these vases were illustrated, and from their combined decoration and marks it is a simple matter for me to give you the required information. Several specimens of similar decoration and marks have been in my possession from time to time, but genuine pieces bearing the cypher A.R., which mean Augustus Rex, are extremely rare and are always of simple decoration, after Chinese designs of flowers, birds, butterflies, etc. The original Augustus Rex mark was used from about 1720 to 1730. and was one of the first marks of the Royal Factory, being the first Royal Patron’s cypher. The two covered vases illustrated in the “Star” were decorated by Madame Wolfsohn, who from 1850 onwards was the chief producer of Dresden China, other than the Royal Factory, and her factory was about one mile from the town of Dresden. She frequently bought white china from the Royal Factory and had it decorated at her own, where she employed a large staff of artists, and she used the A.R. cypher as her mark. The Royal Factory permitted the use of their first patron’s mark for thirty years. About 1880, however, the Saxony Government took legal action to prevent her from using the A.R. mark, and she then abandoned it for others. Now that eighty years have passed since she first used the A.R. mark, such marked pieces sometimes turn up and puzzle inexperienced collectors. As works of art they are of some value, but they are not genuine Augustus Rex specimens. I will be pleased to give any further information and confirmation personally if any is required.—l am. etc., EVA W. TRE VENA.