A Tournai milk jug from the Duc d'Orléans Service circa 1787

the rim decorated with a broad blue ground border reserved with alternating cartouches of birds and insects, the birds' names inscribed on the base Merle de la Guiane and Le talapiot de Cayenne

Purchased from H.E.Backer Antiques, 10th July 1948 for £35, formerly in the collection of D. Stalder.

There is a little rubbing to the gilded lines around the rims. There is some scratching to the glaze around the body of the jug. There is some fire-specking to the body and handle.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This jug was part of an extensive service comprising 1593 pieces ordered by Philippe, duc d'Orléans from the Tournai factory in 1787.  The service is distinguished by its borders with named bird vignettes, copied for the most part from Buffon's L'Histoire naturelle des oiseaux.  This ten volume work was published between 1770-86 and the Sèvres factory began to use it as a source of decoration for its services during the 1780s.  The Duc d'Orléans service was dispersed at the French Revolution.  Approximately six hundred pieces survive today in the Royal Collection and a smaller group, about eighty pieces, are in the Musées royaux d'Art et d'Histoire in Brussels.  For a full discussion of the service see Claire Dumortier and Patrick Habets, Le Service d'Orléans, 2004.  A smaller version of this milk jug, called pot de forme pansue is in the museum in Brussels, op. cit. p. 134-5, fig. 3.75, and a slightly larger one is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, C.1676-1919.