Yellow Ground Porcelain Appraisal

Pair of Dresden Helena Wolfsohn Yellow-Ground Porcelain Covered Urns

A pair of decorative covered porcelain urns, attributed to the late 19th-century Dresden workshop of Helena Wolfsohn. The urns feature a vibrant canary yellow ground, which was a hallmark of Wolfsohn's style in imitation of early Meissen patterns. Each urn is designed with an ovoid body, a tapering neck, and a conforming domed lid topped with a bud-style finial. Central to each vessel is a large, heart-shaped or quatrefoil white reserve framed by elaborate gilded rococo scrollwork. Within these reserves are finely hand-painted polychrome Watteau-style 'fête galante' scenes, depicting figures in a pastoral landscape. The urns are uniquely accented with twin sculptural handles in the form of classical warrior busts wearing plumed helmets, finished in multi-colored enamels. Minor floral sprays decorate the neck and base areas. Visible condition indicates light gilt wear and surface grime consistent with age; a small chip or restoration may be present on the delicate feathered plumes of the handles. These pieces typically bear the 'AR' (Augustus Rex) monograms, which Wolfsohn used until litigation by Meissen in the 1880s, dating these likely to the 1870s or early 1880s.