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拍品专文
A service which is a slight variant of this design (with white moulded swags) was produced for Crownprince Friedrich Wilhelm III about two years later. An ice-pail from this service from the Dr. K.H. Wadsack Collection was sold in these Rooms on 1 May 2002, lot 97 and is also illustrated by Erich Köllmann and Margarete Jarchow, op. cit. (Munich, 1987), Vol. II, p. 460, fig. 308.
This plate was part of a service made for Peter Biron (1724-1800), the last Duke of Courland. Courland, or Kurland, had become a Duchy in 1561 and Gotthard Kettler its first Duke. The Duchy included much of what is now Latvia and Estonia, and it became the focal point of a power-struggle between the Kings of Poland and Tsars of Russia, particularly during the 18th century when both were interested in controlling it. This reached its peak when from 1740-63 the Duchy simultaneously had two Dukes; Ernst Johann von Biron (1690-1772), who was Empress Anna of Russia's lover, and Karl (1733-1796), the second son of Augustus the King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. When Augustus, King of Poland, died in 1763, Catherine The Great of Russia re-instated Ernst Biron as the sovereign Duke of Courland. Tired of politics and power-struggles, Ernst gave up his Dukedom to his son, Peter Biron in 1769. On 28th March 1795 Peter Biron (1724-1800) gave up his rights to the Duchy and handed them over to Tsar Paul I of Russia (see the following lot). The Duchy ceased to exist and became absorbed into the Russian Empire.
This plate was part of a service made for Peter Biron (1724-1800), the last Duke of Courland. Courland, or Kurland, had become a Duchy in 1561 and Gotthard Kettler its first Duke. The Duchy included much of what is now Latvia and Estonia, and it became the focal point of a power-struggle between the Kings of Poland and Tsars of Russia, particularly during the 18th century when both were interested in controlling it. This reached its peak when from 1740-63 the Duchy simultaneously had two Dukes; Ernst Johann von Biron (1690-1772), who was Empress Anna of Russia's lover, and Karl (1733-1796), the second son of Augustus the King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. When Augustus, King of Poland, died in 1763, Catherine The Great of Russia re-instated Ernst Biron as the sovereign Duke of Courland. Tired of politics and power-struggles, Ernst gave up his Dukedom to his son, Peter Biron in 1769. On 28th March 1795 Peter Biron (1724-1800) gave up his rights to the Duchy and handed them over to Tsar Paul I of Russia (see the following lot). The Duchy ceased to exist and became absorbed into the Russian Empire.