A Meissen Armorial Monteith
A Rare Meissen Armorial Wine Glass Holder
Armorial’s are arms belonging to aristocratic families that ordered Meissen to make services for them bearing the arms of their ancestry. These armorial pieces originate circa 1740’s.
Armorials are found on every type of service wares such as tea bowls and cups and saucers, plates, coffee and teapots, a serving platters. But also on vases and other more unusual types of design such as this unique piece; The Monteith; was an unusual shaped deep bowl with holes cut away at the rim where wine glasses could be kept upside down while ice was kept inside to keep the glasses cool.
This was amongst the major lots at a Christies sale.