Meissen Style Armorial Platter with Rococo Cartouche

Chinese export porcelain platter, circa 1760.
 
Dimensions: Approximately 14⅞” x 12½”.
 
Decoration:
The rim is decorated with a bianco sopra bianco design in the Meissen style and has four cartouches of fruits and flowers.
 
The center is decorated with a large rococo cartouche within which is an image of standing tree trunk. Below the cartouche is the motto “Magis Dulcis Quam Sublimia” in a ribbon. This translates as “sweeter than [the] sublime". Surrounding the cartouche are eight small flowers.
 
The reverse is decorated with a gilt bamboo vine and flowers and the base is unmarked.
The service is illustrated and discussed in Howard, “The Choice of the Private trader”, at pp. 132-133.
 
This platter is part of a very unique service. Each piece bears a different image within the cartouche. These images are derived from “Devises et Emblemes” (1691) by Daniel de la Feuille. However, they appear to be based on a later edition commissioned by Peter the Great in the early 18th century.
 
In the case of this platter, the image matches image number 521 on pp. 174-175 of the later edition.
 
The service was sold by Major General Sir George Burns, at Christie's London in 1979, and is sometimes referred to as the Burns service. 
 
Howard suggests this service may have Jesuit significance.
 
The Meissen style, which was popular at the Russian court, and the use of the Russian commissioned edition of de la Feuille’s work for the images suggest that the service may have been produced for the Russian market.
 
Condition: Loss of gilding on edge of rim, staining and wear on raised elements; otherwise in excellent condition consistent with age and usage. Please examine the photos; they are part of the description.
 
Please note, I do NOT issue partial refunds. If you believe that my description is not accurate, I will refund your purchase price upon receipt of the item in the same condition as it was sent under the terms of the return policy in this listing.
 
I also do not ship to post office boxes.
 
PLEASE NOTE: This is a large item to ship