LARGE SÈVRES FLORAL-DECORATED DINNER SERVICE, 1761-1784

Each piece painted with colorful arrangements of flowers or fruit within gilt-dashed blue line borders, comprising: two seaux à crénelés, two large seaux à bouteille, two seaux à bouteille ordinaires, two seaux à semi-bouteille,  a seau à liqueurs, two large oval shaped dishes, two triangular shaped dishes, two compotiers coquilles,  a large decagonal bowl, a circular salad bowl, two sauceboats, covers and fixed stands, twelve dinner plates, two plateaux à trois pots de confitures and covers, two triangular shaped trays with five pots de crèmes and six covers and another later hard-paste pot de crème, two sucriers de monsieur le premier, covers and stands, a moutardier and cover and two salières triple, interlaced L’s, various date letters and painter’s marks including those for Armand, Bulidon, Buteaux, Levé, Prisette, Le Bel, Binet, Choisy, Commelin and Reselle. 65 pieces.

Mrs. Mellon Bruce;
Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York, sale 3172, lot 274.

Seaux à crénelés: (length 12 ¼ in., height 5 in.) One has an approximate 4-inch long firing-related crack running vertically in the interior through the flower sprig painting on the side where one handle rests. The same handle has an approximate fine Y-shaped firing-related crack visible on the exterior. There is an approximate ¾-inch very fine firing-related haircrack running down from the crenelated rim. There are two small starcracks on the base, which are also firing-related. The other one has an approximate 1/8-inch chip to the rim. There is an approximate 5-6 inch long firing related fault/crack on the base running across one end of the basin, which has been painted over with a flower spray. Both have some very minor wear to the enamels on the handles. Two large seaux à bouteille: (height 7 1/2 in., diameter 8 in.) One with some very minor, miniscule chipping to edge of one handle and some minor wear to the gilding along the rim edge. The other in generally good condition apart from a tiny pinhead chip to the edge of one handle and some very minor rubbing to the gilding. Two seaux à bouteille ordinaires: (height 6 ¾ in., diameter 7 in.) One with a miniscule pinhead chip to one handle and some very minor rubbing to the gilding on one handle as well as some very minor wear to the blue lines at the border. The other in generally good condition. Two seaux à semi-bouteille: (height 4 ½ in.; diameter 4 3/8 in.) Both with some minor rubbing to the gilding to the edges of the handles and along the rim; otherwise in generally good condition. A seau à liqueurs: (length 10 ¼ in.; height 4 ½ in.) There is some very minor rubbing to the gilding on the handles and few miniscule pinhead chips to the edges of the handles. Two large oval shaped dishes: (length 13 5/8 in.) Both in generally good condition. Two triangular shaped dishes: One with some rubbing to the gilding along the gilt rim edges; otherwise both in generally good condition. Two compotiers coquilles: both with some very minor rubbing to the gilding along the rim edges; otherwise in generally good condition. A large decagonal bowl: (width 11 in.) In generally good condition. A circular salad bowl: has three small footrim chips not visible from the exterior. Two sauceboats, covers and fixed stands: One sauce tureen has an approximate 6 by 2 in section along one side of the rim with a firing-related black pitting. Otherwise in generally good condition. Twelve dinner plates: Some occasional very minor rubbing to the gilding at the rim or blue enamels. Two with small rim chips, One with an approximate ¾-inch restored rim chip. Two plateaux à trois pots de confitures and covers: One has an approximate ¼-inch rim chip to the plateau. The other with an approximate 1-inch firing-related haircrack running down the rim of the plateau. One cover has a small chip to the underside of the rim, another cover has approximate 1 ½-inch long area of regilding to the rim. Both plateau and covers have some very minor occasional rubbing to the gilding. Two triangular shaped trays with five pots de crèmes and six covers and another later hard-paste pot de crème: Trays: One tray with a ¼-inch firing-related haircrack running down the rim; other in generally good condition. Pots de crèmes: all in generally good condition, the later hard-paste one has a small restored rim chip right above the handle. Covers: one cover has a 1 ½-inch restored area at the rim, possibly covering chip/s; there is an associated small chip in this same area; another cover with a miniscule rimchip; there is some occasional and very minor chipping to the edges of the flower-and-leaves knobs. Two sucriers de monsieur le premier, covers and stands: one sucrier with some flaking to the gilding along the rim edge; otherwise in generally good condition. A moutardier and cover: with some rubbing to the gilding around the edges; the cover has ½-inch area on either side of the spoon rest hole, which has been restored with some made-up material and further associated chipping to this area. Two salières triple: In generally good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.