315 - RARE DINNER SERVICE BEARING THE MONOGRAM OF THE DUKE OF ORLÉANS, THE FUTURE KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE, PROBABLY DELIVERED TO THE PALAIS-ROYAL

RARE DINNER SERVICE BEARING THE MONOGRAM OF THE DUKE OF ORLÉANS, THE FUTURE KING LOUIS-PHILIPPE, PROBABLY DELIVERED TO THE PALAIS-ROYAL Dinner service consisting of 21 dinner plates, 15 soup plates, 2 lidded soup tureens, 2 round serving dishes, and 4 round fruit bowls in hard-paste porcelain, with a simple gold border along the rim; the rim is decorated with the cipher of the Duke of Orléans, “LPO,” beneath a gold crown of the Prince of the Blood. Signs of wear and small cracks. Paris, probably the Nast factory, Restoration period. No visible mark; possible traces of “Nast” marks on a red label. Plates: Diameter 23 cm. Provenance Table service for Louis Philippe d’Orléans, Duke of Orléans, the future King Louis-Philippe I (1773–1850), most likely at the Palais Royal (Paris). History Thanks to a recent discovery by Denis Grandemenge, we learn from a letter by Mr. Pascalin, director of expenditures for the Duke of Orléans, to an anonymous recipient, written from the Palais Royal on June 28, 1824, that this tableware set was intended for the Palais Royal and had been sent by mistake to the Château d’Eu: “Sir, I have the honor to inform you that I am sending you, via Mr. Laigniez’s carriage, a crate containing the painting intended to adorn the chapel of the Château [of Eu] and another crate containing six candelabra to be placed on the altar, along with two crosses, one of which is for the sacristy. In one of the crystal crates were four cruets with trays intended for use in the chapel. A porcelain service with gold trim and gold monograms was sent to the Château d’Eu by mistake or due to a misunderstanding. This is not their intended destination; I ask that you keep everything marked with a black number and have these same porcelain pieces with gold trim and gold numbers packed with the utmost (care?) and sent to me on the next available trip by the coachman Laigniez. I will replace them with an equal quantity of porcelain similar to what you will have remaining. I draw your full attention to this matter; it is important to me that these porcelain pieces be sent promptly and that every precaution be taken to ensure their safety during transit. Please, therefore, entrust the packing only to a skilled individual who will take all necessary care. This is a matter I entrust to your kindness.” (AN 300, API 136, No. 15).