porcelain, body with gilt rim, white ledge with light purple shells, gilt-accented, gilt arched frieze, matt gilt neck with burnished gilt buds and undulations, well with mythological polychrome painted image, ‘Mercury beholds Herse’, to the centre signed L. Herr, Ø 24.7 cm, Vienna, Imperial Manufactory, underglaze blue shield mark, year mark 1806, turner no. 35 Johann Kühlmann 1798–1813 (Ru)

Lorenz, Laurenz Herr, b. Vienna 1787, history and portrait painter, entered Viennese Academy as 12 year-old 12, awarded 3 Gundel prizes, from 1804 at the Manufactory, until 1810 painted in an antiquising style, from 1812 déjeuners and later portraits, amongst other things, he specialised in the painting of antique onyx cameos, 1819 founded a lithography workshop, from 1833 at the Manufactory again;
inscription verso: ‘Hersé, l’Original peint par Lang Jean se trouve dans la Galerie Im. Et R. à Vienne’;
Herse, Greek daughter of King Cecrops I and sister of Aglauros, Erichthonius and Pandrosos. Ovid, Metamorphoses II, 708832: Herse and Aglauros were entrusted with a basket in which Athena had hidden Erichthonius. Hermes fell in love with Herse, from this alliance Cephalus was born.