Lot 447
  • 447

A set of four Sèvres soft-paste porcelain plates, 18th century dated 1774 and 1775

Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 EUR
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Description

  • porcelaine de sevres
  • Diam. 24,5 cm. ; Diam. 9 1/2 in.
with a polychrome ornementation of fruits and flower bouquets at the center, and three flowers bouquets surrounded by golden palms and floral garlands on the rim, on a pink background, marked with the interlaced letters LL the letter V standing for 1774, the mark of the painter Antoine-Joseph Chappuis and the gilders François Barré and François Baudouin on one, the interlaced letters LL the letter X standing for 1775, the marks of the painter Charles Louis Méreaud and the gilders François Barré and François Baudouin on the second plate, the interlaced letters LL , the letter X standing for 1775, the marks of the painter  Bertrand and the gilders François Barré and François Baudouin on the third plate, the interlaced letters LL, without letter as a date, the marks of the painter Taillandier and the gilder Baudouin on the fourth plate, and DR standing for François Drand in purple, probably for the background 

Condition

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. There is a small scratch to the plate dated 1774 and some small wears to the gilding. There are some small wears to the gilding of the plates dated 1775 and to the plate without any date.
"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."

Catalogue Note

These four plates most likely were part of a service with a pink ground purchased during the first half of the year 1774 by Jacques Dumoulin, jeweler in Paris. The service, comprising 36 plates, was still complete in 1860 when it was presented at auction (Christie's London, 10 May 1860, lot 122). It was then divided during the 20th century. The Hillwood Museum in Washington D.C. houses six ice cups and two triple compartment salt cellars (Liana Parades Arend, Sèvres Porcelain at Hillwood, 1998, pp.13 and 42, figs 5 and 21), two plates are present in the collections of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg (Nina Birioukova, La porcelaine de Sèvres au XVIIIe siècle [18th century Sèvres porcelain]  catalogue of the Hermitage Museum collections, pp. 255-256, no. 1087 and 1088), four plates are also kept at the Huntington Art Gallery (J. Weaver, French Art of the Eighteenth Century at the Huntington, 2008, pp. 262-265, no. 106).

For further discussion of this service see David Peters¸ Sèvres Plates and Services of the 18th century, 2015, vol. III, pp. 525-527, no. 74-6 where the author states that there is uncertainty about the use of the letter-date X, supposed to designate the year 1775 but appearing on objects sold in 1774.