Provenance

Probably commissioned by Prince Eugene Francis of Savoy-Carignano (1663–1736), Vienna, Austria [see note 1]. Hans Mueller (1868 –1923), Lebanon, Ky. by 1923; sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, March 12–14, 1925, lot 95 [see note 2]; probably sold to either Edith Malvina Keteltas Wetmore (1848–1927), New York or Newport, R.I., or Edith Malvina K. Wetmore (1870 –1966), New York or Newport, R.I. March 12–14, 1925 [see note 3]; bequeathed to the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 1966

Note 1: John Ayers, former Keeper of the Far Eastern Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, first identified the coat of arms as “princely,” because of the ermine mantling; he suggested that the order of the golden fleece would indicate the Hapsburg family, either Austrian or Iberian Peninsula, Spain or Portugal (notes from a conversation with John Ayers, May 6, 1985, curatorial object file). Indeed, an identical Armorial Dish, featured in Cohen and Cohen’s Spring 2020 auction catalogue, was similarly identified as bearing the “central underglaze blue armorial achievement of Prince Eugene of Savoy with the augmentation of the arms of the House of Austria,” and in 2019, three armorial plates bearing the arms of Prince Eugene of Savoy, sold at Christie’s, London, from descendants of Prince Eugene of Savoy, thus, indicating that the original object was likely commissioned and owned by the Prince. (“Antiques and Fine Art Magazine,” Spring 2020, p. 18; The Royal House of Savoy, Christie’s, London, October 14, 2019, lot 90).

Note 2: The will of Hans Mueller, instructs his executrix and wife, Louise “Lulu” Kabert Mueller Steenman (1875–1948), to “within two years from my death, … either at private or public sale, as she may think proper, all real estate which I may own or have any interest in and give to the purchaser thereof a general warranty deed.” The proceeds were first to be used to pay any outstanding debts, and then be divided amongst Lulu and their two daughters, Gretchen Mueller (1899–1971) and Carola Mueller Montgomery Alderson (1905–1982) (copy of the will of Hans Mueller, Lebanon, Ky., July 1, 1922, curatorial object file).

Note 3: A small label attached to the bottom of the plate reads “acquired from Hans Mueller Sale, Anderson Galleries 3/12–14, 1925.” Much of the Wetmore bequest to the Gallery originally came from the collection of George Peabody Wetmore (1846–1921) at Chateau Sur Mer, having been bequeathed to his wife, Edith Malvina Keteltas Wetmore (1848–1927), and later, to their daughter Edith Malvina K. Wetmore (1870–1966). Both mother and daughter were also collectors, but it remains uncertain whether the buyer at the 1925 sale was Edith Malvina Keteltas Wetmore or Edith Malvina K. Wetmore.