This fine quality tureen, probably intended as a sauce tureen or sugar basin was part of an original dinner service with plates, dishes and serving items, all decorated in the same pattern and made by the Herend Porcelain factory. Founded in Hungary in 1826 it almost immediately enjoyed enormous popularity with wealthy customers including members of the European aristocracy. Production continued into the twentieth century through nationalistion in 1948 and privatisation in 1993 and continues to the present day. Many of the patterns created in the nineteenth century are still reproduced. The design here is known as ‘Rothschild Bird’ doubtless from its first purchasers all those years ago. The form of the marks suggests a C20th dating here, probably towards the end of the second half, and this particular shape is hard to come by in perfect condition and highly collectible.