A signed antique Royal Vienna porcelain gilt and hand-painted cobalt blue vase. It features a hand-painted central cartouche depicting a young maiden playing with a cherub, who has taken away her wreath of flowers. The picture is signed by the artist Riemer in the lower right. It is richly decorated with two-tone gilt decoration, raised gold jeweling, and white enamel jeweling throughout. The vase has a cobalt blue background, and the frame of the cartouche, as well as the upper and lower rims, are decorated in gold. The hand-painted Royal Vienna items are extremely detailed and well-designed. The painter Riemer is one of the most respected artists who worked at the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory. The porcelain painted by him is of greater artistic and commercial value than many other works of the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory.The vase bears the beehive mark of the Imperial & Royal Manufactory �Royal Vienna,� corresponding to the mentioned period, stamped asymmetrically in blue underglaze. There is also an inscription on the base ''Grazie u. Amor� (�Grace and Cherub''). Royal Vienna porcelain is the product of the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory, founded in 1718 and continued until 1864. The firm was Europe''s second-oldest porcelain factory after Meissen porcelain. Initially, it was a private enterprise, founded by Claude du Paquier, an official of the Viennese Imperial court, but in 1744, it was rescued from financial difficulties when bought by Empress Maria Theresa, and thereafter remained an asset of the emperors.The Vienna Porcelain Manufactory produced a wide range of ceramics, including dinnerware, tea sets, and decorative objects, often featuring elaborate painted designs and gold embellishments. The company quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality porcelain, and by the mid-18th century, it was one of the leading porcelain manufacturers in Europe. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory shifted its focus to more...