An Unusual Agreement
Sotheby's
The term ‘soldier’ vase is derived
from an unusual trade agreement between Augustus the Strong (1670-1733) and
Frederick Wilhelm I of Prussia (1688-1740). An avid collector of Chinese and
Japanese porcelain, Augustus traded 151 pieces from his collection, of which 48
were noted for their great size, to Frederick William for 600 soldiers or
dragoons. This extraordinary and well-documented event speaks volumes to the
value and desirability of Chinese porcelain. Vases of this size, with the
addition of copper-red are very rare.
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Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of
Art
New York | 19-20 March
Sotheby's
