Underglaze Blue Design Tea Caddy

This is a rare early triangular shaped tea pot warmer made by Meissen in about 1740. This shape was made for those large globular shaped teapots with the handle above attached by metal fittings. I have never come across one of these in blue and white - jsut the polychrome versions and those are rare as well. The piece is superbly modeled with two reticulated sides with flowers and lots of relief scroll work highlighted in under glaze blue. Really a stunning piece - just missing its teapot now :) The piece is in perfect condition with a few very minor firing imperfections. It is marked on the inside bottom instead of on the underside with the early blue crossed swords with the dot as well as a blue painter's mark as shown. There is an odd set of four lines underneath that might be a former's mark or just coincidence. The piece is 5 inches tall and 7.75 inches along the sides. d, 2.75 inches wide and 1.875 inches deep. Please email me for more information or other pictures.