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 The
augustus rex mark or monogram (AR) was introduced by Meissen in
the first half of the 18th century when the crossed swords were
introduced.
The AR monogram was a special mark reserved for objects used by
the court of Elector August the Strong, founder of the Meissen factory
and later reigning monarch of Poland, King August II. It was also
added to pieces produced for the court of his son, August III, who
succeeded him in 1733.
All
court pieces were marked with the AR monogram, and occasionally
the mark was added to gifts produced for royal visitors.
The
mark was always applied by hand, in underglaze blue, and some variations
exist. However pieces marked with the AR monogram were produced
in the very early days of the meissen factory and are mostly decorated
with oriental motifs, in the Bottger chinoiserie or the kakiemon
style.
It
goes without saying that surviving pieces are very rare and very
expensive and that there are almost none available on the open market.
Most if not all of the existing pieces are part of Royal or museum
collections.
You
do see AR marked porcelain for sale at auctions on internet auction
sites and at fairs and markets; and buyers should be aware that
they are probably all imitations, most having been produced in the
second half of the 19th century.
Most
imitations will be colourful and completely different in style from
the original early 18th century meissen pieces.
In
the 1880's
Meissen did take legal steps and attempt to stop the imitations
(as they have also done with their crossed swords mark), but as
with todays modern market, the general public are quite willing
to accept imitations at the right price and the copies contimue
to be produced throughout europe.
Read
on for a selection of the imitators, including the almost perfect
and very popular imitator, Helena Wolfsohn.
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