Following last November’s successful Part I of a sale of Meissan porelain which garnered over £1 million, Bonham’s ”Hoffmeister Collection of Meissen Porcelain Part II” will take place on May 26 in New Bond Street, London at 10:30 am.

This much-anticipated sale will include two items previously owned by Pope Benedict XIV, a cup and saucer. These items were given to him by Augustus III, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland in 1743. Bonham’s estimate for these items is £6,000-£8,000; sold together.

Another strong selection of this auction is an important Meissan circular stand circa 1725-1730. This item was formerly in the pre-war collection Erich von Goldschmidt-Rothschild, and features beautiful chinoiserie decoration. Estimate for this lot is £100,000-£150,000. This auction also includes examples from famous historic collections, such as the Royal collections of Saxony, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Russia and Baden.

2010 marks the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Meissan factory, Europe’s first porcelain factory. The Hoffmeister Collection is one of the most important private collections of 18th-century Meissen porcelain in the world; nothing close to this has been on the market in years.

[Bonhams]