Soup tureen with two volute handles and lid with putto finial. The tureen is decorated on all four sides with polychrome pastoral and mythological scenes.

The lid is decorated with the same motifs. The borders are enhanced with the so-called "sliced egg" motif, while the handles are filleted in azure and gold.

The tray likewise displays a "sliced egg" border while the polychrome central decoration portrays young children in a landscape.

The shape of this tureen, with volute handles and putto finial, originally derives from a model in use at Meissen between 1740 and 1745, duly re-elaborated.

The so-called "sliced egg" motif was introduced at Doccia around 1780 and remained in use until about 1800.

The highly accomplished execution of the polychrome decorations on this tureen and tray could suggest an attribution to the hand of Giovan Battista Fanciullacci. Note that one of the scenes depicted on the tureen appears to derive from an engraving of the "Metamorphoses d'Ovidie" [Ovid's Metamorphoses] (Tome II, 1732, p. 296), namely a print portraying the Labors of Hercules, and specifically, the centaur Nessus ravishing Deianeira (I wish to thank Patrizia Bongiorno for kindly indicating this reference). (A.d'A.)