silver, inner gilding, of round form, edge with laurel band, four feet with acanthus leaves, two handles, socket lid with finial, body and hinged lid with engraved coat of arms of the Count of Zich and Vásonykeö, height 25 cm, diameter 21 cm, weight 3402 g, master’s mark IG = Johann Jakob Grabe (Seling 2581), Augsburg hallmark 1793-1795, (Lu)

A pair of important tureens from Augsburg by Johann Jakob Grabe for Carl I, Count of Zich and Vásonykeö (1753-1826), the aristocratic patron of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who played for him for instance on 20.3.1784 and in the following years in several private academies. In 1782 his wife Maria Antonia was probably - at least briefly - Mozart's pupil. Carl Count of Zich began his political career early. In 1787 he was appointed President of the Hungarian Court Chamber and one year later appointed the highest representative of the Hungarian jurisdiction (iudex curiae).

In 1808 he became Minister of State, in 1809 Minister of War and from 1813 until his death in 1826 he served as Minister of the Interior of Hungary. Johann Jakob Grabe received numerous commissions from the European aristocracy; among others he provided a comprehensive service for the princes Thurn and Taxis. C.f. his almost identical pair of tureens in the Bavarian National Museum, illustrated in Kommer, Zirbelnuss and Zarenadler, Munich 1987, fig. 38. C.f. also Seling Munich 1997, fig. 38.