Antique Ernst Wahliss Porcelain Topographical Coffee Pot, Burgtheater, Vienna
This is a beautiful porcelain coffee pot from the famed Viennese porcelain retailer and maker, Ernst Wahliss.
This yellow coffee pot features a beautifully painted image of a Vienna street scene by the historic Burgtheater, the national theater of Austria. In addition, the pot has brilliant gilt trim including decorative scrolling floral bands on the lid and just below the shoulder of the pot.
The pot has a number of marks on the base including a blue underglaze mark "EW" in a crown over a shield or beehive. There is a stamp which reads "Porzellanhaus, Ernst Wahliss, Wien." The numbers 6 and 3 are impressed. "Burgtheater in Wien" is hand painted on the base.
The coffee pot measures about 6.5" tall with the lid and is about 3.5" in diameter at the base. It is quite petite, and, I believe, was likely part of a tete-a-tete set.
For reference, there are two very similar yellow Viennese porcelain topographical coffee pots with the flat top handle in the collections of the Pitti Palace Museums in Florence, Italy, and the Detroit Institute of Arts in Michigan. While this shape brings to mind a chocolate pot, both of the museum pieces are identified as coffee pots. The Detroit piece is item 1988.69.4. The museum pieces are dated to 1780 and 1804. This pot would be newer as Ernst Wahliss began selling porcelain wares in the 1860's. Research indicates that the theater building depicted on the pot was replaced with a new building for which work began in 1874.
This coffee pot is a wonderful piece of history on many levels.
Condition Note: The coffee pot has a tight hairline crack that runs from the top lip to just below the shoulder of the pot. The crack then continues horizontally in the floral band for about 1.25". Please look carefully at photos 21-23 to see this. In photo 23, I have traced the crack with a fine red line to, hopefully, give you a better sense of it. The gilt trim is vibrant and shows very little wear. The topographical image is wonderful.
Please see all of the photos to judge the quality and condition of this piece.
Unless specifically listed as New, all of my items are pre-owned, vintage, or antique. They may show signs of use appropriate for their age and purpose. I make every effort to accurately describe the items and any flaws. Please ask all questions before purchase as I do not accept returns.
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About me
I am beginning to downsize my household including my 40 year collection of antique and vintage treasures. Most of my items were collected regionally in the Great Plains, but I also purchased wonderful pieces over the years on travels and from eBay sellers. I will list a few pieces at a time, so please save my seller page and check back often.
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Julianne