Carried by four dolphin-shaped feet and adorned with curled cornucopias with putti figures, this oval, compressed, and bulging corpus features side handles in the form of fish-tailed Nereids. The imposing lid is accompanied by a fully plastic, all-encompassing group of figures. Galatea sits on a dolphin, accompanied by Cupid with a bow and arrow. This piece is likely inspired by the painting "Galatea in a Shell Cart" (circa 1632) by Francesco Albani, housed in the Dresden Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Inventory number Gal. No. 340). On the reverse side sits a nymph together with Galatea, holding a bow-shaped, puffed-up, purple-yellow cloth with gold flower patterns, which serves as a handle. The corpus and lid are adorned with relief decorations in the form of shells and waves, abundantly decorated with plastic swans, snails, shells, corals, and delicate flowers. On both sides of the vessel, large rocaille cartouches with the coat of arms of Heinrich Count von Brühl and his wife Franziska von Kolowrat-Krakowsky, or an Indian flower branch, are present. The lid rim is decorated with scattered flowers and flower branches in the Kakiemon style in iron red, purple, sea and moss green, as well as blue and yellow. The polychrome painting features rich gold staffage, combed gold edges, and gilding. It was possibly made by Johann Joachim Kaendler around 1738. The original table service, consisting of over 2000 pieces, known as the "Swan Service," was commissioned by Heinrich Count von Brühl, later Prime Minister of the Electorate of Saxony under August III, in 1736. It is the most extensive, magnificent, and elaborately designed porcelain service of the 18th century and a central work of Meissen porcelain art, designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler with the assistance of his colleagues Johann Friedrich Eberlein and Johann Gottlieb Ehder between 1737 and 1741. The characteristic relief decoration in the form of shells and waves is noteworthy. The pieces were exceptionally elaborately designed, including terrines, boxes, and jugs with modeled figures of the marine world, shaped as feet, handles, and lid crowns. The plastic decoration was completed with the delicate Indian flower decor. All pieces bear the coat of arms of Heinrich Count von Brühl and his wife. Examples can be found in the SKD (Inventory number PE1450) as well as in Lustheim Palace and the Warsaw National Museum. See Pietzsch, Swan Service. Meissen Porcelain for Heinrich Count von Brühl, No. 14, 106. A large lidded porcelain tureen from the "Swan Service" with splendid figural and applied decoration. The lid features a group of Galatea, Cupid, and a nymph. Minor restoration. Crossed swords mark. Meissen, 20th century.
