Ecuelle with the coat of arms of the dukes of Lorraine,

between 1722 and 1735

This lidded bowl, made in Meissen and decorated in Augsburg, is part of a coffee service comprising twenty pieces. Only seven have survived. It is painted in gold and decorated with chinoiserie and the coat of arms of Leopold, duke of Lorraine.

This bowl is mentioned in the description of the grounds of the Château de Tervuren. This is one of the residences of the governor general of the Netherlands, Charles of Lorraine, one of Leopold’s two sons. Like the service, the bowl belongs to his private collection.

Charles of Lorraine, lover of the arts

Charles of Lorraine was Governor General of the Netherlands from 1744 until his death in 1780, almost without interruption. He left his mark on Brussels. A major patron of the arts, his ‘princely hobby’ is porcelain. In fact, he is responsible for setting up the first porcelain workshops in Brussels. The Museum’s collection includes a number of pieces that bear witness to the Governor’s importance.

Thanks to the support of the Comte Thierry de Looz-Corswarem Fund, the King Baudouin Foundation acquired this piece in 2023. It is now on display at the Brussels City Museum.