A very rare Meissen Ornithological Twin-handled Bowl, Cover and Stand, of circular bombe form, the bowl applied at the handles with simulated bifurcated sprigs of English flowering woodland tendrils gathered by yellow ribbons. The whole painted with English Songbirds perched on leafy twigs, with some scattered insects, taken from the first volume of Eleazar Albin’s Natural History of Birds, published in 1731. The Bowl with a Cock Sparrow on one side and a Yellow Hammer on the other, the stand with a Water Wagtail, a Blue Titmouse and a Robin-Red-Breast, the cover with a Hen Sparrow on one side and a Common Wren on the other, surmounted with a lemon fruit finial together with flowers and leaves.

Eleazar Albin (1690-1742) was an English Naturalist and Watercolour illustrator who wrote and illustrated, with the help of his daughters who he had taught to paint, ‘A Natural History of Birds’. Printed for the author and sold by William Innys in St Paul’s Church Yard, John Clarke under the Royal-Exchange, Cornhill and John Brindley at the King’s Arms in New Bond-Street, volume one in 1731, volume 2 in 1734 and volume 3 in 1738.
Albin’s early life is shrouded in mystery, though he claimed to be of German origin. In 1708 he is known to have been married and living in Piccadilly. He was one of the circle of ‘Birdmen’ in London and knew George Edwards, Joseph Dandridge and James Petiver well. It appears they were all brought firmly together by Sir Hans Sloane of Cheyne Manor, who encouraged this fascinating cross fertilisation and exchange of ideas, learning and observation through his collection and many naturalist contacts throughout London and the world. It is also quite clear that the enamellers at the Meissen Manufactory had copies of Albin’s volumes.

Only 89 Sets were printed and coloured for the original subscribers and the whole work of Three volumes covered 306 engraved plates. The first two volumes were printed under the patronage of Sir Robert Abdy of Albins, a village in Essex. The third volume was supported by Dr Richard Mead, Physician to the King. Birds are taken from specimens owned by the Duke of Chandos, Thomas Lowther, Joseph Dandridge and Sir Hans Sloane amongst many others ranging from Sea Captains, market places, quaysides in London. Live birds were also observed and painted at Apothecaries’ shops, coffee houses and taverns across London. Albin even appealed to his readers, asking that, ‘Gentlemen….send any curious birds…..to Eleazar Albin near the Dog and Duck in Tottenham-Court Road’.

The examples of the birds included on this piece, together with their Illustration plate number within Albin’s ‘Natural History of Birds’ volume one 1731.

The Circular base:
The Water Wagtail, Motaeilla Alba, plate 47.
The Blue Titmouse or Nun, Parus Caerulens, plate 45.
The Robin-Red-Breast, Rebeculus, plate 49.
The Twin-handled Bowl:
The Yellow Hammer, Emberiza Flava, plate 63.
The Cock House Sparrow, Passer Domestica, plate 59.

The Cover:
The Hen Sparrow, Passer Domestica, plate 59.
The Common Wren, Passer Troglodites, plate 51.

Marks:    Crossed swords mark in underglaze blue