A pair of Potsdam/Zechlin presentation glasses for Field Marshall von Münnich, circa 1734-41


Of funnel shape, wheel engraved with the engraving filled-in in bright gold, the circular armorial shields with quarters of swans and busts of monks centred with the double-headed eagle, the arms encircled by the Order of St. Andrew and surmounted by a coronet, flanked by Prussian eagles as supporters standing on military trophies, the feet cut and gilded with scallops and flutes, 15.2cm and 15.6cm high (lightly crizzled) (2)
|The arms belong to the German noble family Von Münnich, together with the Russian Order of St Andrew. This identifies these glasses as having been made for Burchard Christoph Graf von Münnich, a German-born Field Marshall and statesman. Generalfeldmarschall Burchard Christoph Reichsgraf von Münnich (1683-1767) Commanded the Royal Guard of Augustus the Strong. In 1721 he entered the service of Czar Peter the Great and under Peter II von Münnich became General of the Infantry. He was ennobled as a Russian Count (Graf) in 1728. Under Czarina Anna Ivanovna he was appointed Privy Councillor, Minister of War and in 1732, Field Marshall. He was awarded the Order of St. Andrew in 1734. Although exiled to Siberia by Czarina Elizabeth, he was rehabilitated by Peter III. Von Munich died in 1767 during the reign of Catherine the Great who wrote 'Even if he wasn't a Son of Russia, he was one of its Fathers'.An important Meissen porcelain service bearing the same arms as on these glasses was probably a gift to von Münnich from the Saxon Elector, Friedrich Augustus. Because these glasses follow Potsdam (Berlin) traditions, it is possible they were a gift from Friedrich William of Prussia.