120 - Five pieces of tableware; Sèvres, circa 1840.

Five pieces of tableware; Sèvres, circa 1840. Porcelain. Provenance: King Louis Philippe. They present seals on the base. Measurements: 3.4 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm (plates); 7, 7 x 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.5 cm (bowls); 14.5 x 12 x 12 x 12 cm (jar). Set of five white porcelain pieces featuring the emblem of the French king Louis Philippe, with his golden initial flanked by laurel branches and crowned in the area All pieces also feature golden elements that stand out against the white thus creating an elegant contrast. Initially founded in Vincennes in 1740, the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres was transferred to this location in 1756. One of the leading European porcelain factories, the Manufacture was successively named after different political regimes: royal, imperial and national manufactory. Still in activity today, the firm continues to edit the objects created since 1740, although its current production is largely oriented towards contemporary creation. The Manufacture de Vincennes was founded with the support of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, with the idea of creating pieces for the court and to compete with the porcelain productions of Meissen and Chantilly. In fact, the first experiments were carried out by the brothers Robert and Gilles Dubois, who came from the manufacture of Chantilly. Important results were obtained as early as 1745, under the direction of the Gravant couple, especially the creation of models of porcelain flowers to decorate all kinds of pieces. The new building in Sèvres, where the manufacture moved in 1756, was built on the initiative of Madame de Pompadur. Three years later it was named a royal factory, and from that moment on it would use fine gold, the only one with this privilege in all of France. In its early years the factory produced mainly soft paste; hard porcelain, with kaolin, was not marketed in Sèvres until 1770. Among the innovations of this manufacture, in the 18th century, were colored backgrounds and the use of biscuit for small sculptures. During the French Revolution, the factory suffered a decrease in production, but experienced a resurgence between 1800 and 1847 thanks to the direction of Alexandre Brongniart, who gave the factory international fame. During these years, many important technical innovations were made, and several contemporary artists collaborated with the factory.