LONDON.- In 1738, Elizabeth Farnese, the Queen of Spain, devised a proxy marriage between her son, Charles VII, King of Naples, and Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony in a bid to maintain her family’s control of Europe. Maria was just 14 at the time. As the young princess travelled across Europe to meet her new husband, Meissen porcelain was at the centre of a frenzy of extravagant gift exchanges amongst the European courts.

Nearly 300 years later, Bonhams’ Fine European Ceramics sale will offer some of the surviving works of art on 2 December at Bonhams New Bond Street.

The royal wedding provided an opportunity that a rogue Frenchman called Velasco could not resist. Having embezzled four million florins from the Spanish ambassador to The Hague, Velasco was wanted nearly everywhere in Europe, but he was able to dupe Count von Brühl, director of the Meissen factory, into entrusting him with the delivery of 17 cases of priceless Meissen porcelain to Elizabeth Farnese – the King’s gesture of blessing to the marriage.

In June 1738, Velasco disappeared with the porcelain. A manhunt ensued across the entire continent. “Wanted” posters appeared in every European capital and port city offering a reward for a stylishly dressed man “of around twenty-four … tanned, blond wig, brown eyebrows, blue eyes.”

The hunt met with mixed success. Velasco remained at large – and was even sighted in London a few years later – but the porcelain was eventually found in August, safe and dry in the Italian port of Livorno. It was finally delivered to the queen.

Meanwhile, Princess Maria was receiving her own gifts, including a 1737 Meissen armorial toilette service from her father, Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. None of the silver-gilt mounts have survived and porcelain from this set is incredibly scarce. A cup from the service will feature in the 2 December sale with an estimate of £20,000-30,000.

Meissen was central to diplomatic relations amongst the European courts because the manufactory had devised the first hard-paste porcelain on the continent. Before its production began in 1710, Europe knew of porcelain only as an import from the East: Meissen was the ultimate medium through which to display international ambition and magnificence.

As Meissen worked to reshape the world of ceramics, the manufactory produced a great deal of porcelain in the Japanese style, but Chinese-style works were incredibly rare. A Meissen Famille Verte vase, made in around 1735, is one of only four recorded examples of its type in the world. It leads the 2 December sale with an estimate of £60,000-80,000.

“This vase is a remarkable work of exceptional quality,” said Nette Megens, Bonhams Head of European Glass and Ceramics. “It is a perfect example of the meeting between Europe’s fascination with Oriental porcelain and the innovation of the Meissen manufactory. It is both an intriguing piece of history and a beautiful work of art.”

A rare Meissen armorial two-handled beaker and saucer from the service of Clemens August of Cologne, made in 1735, will also feature in the sale with an estimate of £50,000-60,000. The porcelain features a unique and highly personal scheme of chinoiserie figures paying homage to Clemens, Elector of Cologne. He was one of the first people able to order from the Meissen factory, which was a Royal privilege reserved only for the Electors and the Saxon court.