Lot 52
  • 52

A PAIR OF SÈVRES GOLD-GROUND ETRUSCAN CUPS AND STANDS, 1794-95 |

Estimate
12,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • RF Sèvres marks in gold, painter's mark 'PP' for Philippe Parpette (active from 1755-57, 1773-1806), gilder's mark Lf. for André-Joseph La France (active from 1776-1803, 1813-28)
  • the cups 7.7cm., 3in. high; the saucers 16.6cm., 6 1/2 in. diameter
Gobelet à anses étrusques, 

Literature

Frederique Citera, 'Aux Origines du Neo-classicisme a Sevres', L'Estampille, L'Objet d'Art, Paris, No. 253, December 1991, pp. 52-67;
Selma Schwartz, 'The Sèvres porcelain service for Marie-Antoinette's diary at Rambouillet: An exercise in archaeological neo-classicism', The French Porcelain Society, London, IX, 1992, pp. 1-35.

Condition

In overall good appearance. One stand with a flat chip on the outer edge of the footrim, and tiny chips or flakes to the edge of the inner well. The other stand with two small areas of re-touched gilding on the edge of the rim, one of which has some re-touching to the flower at the outer edge and the immediate area of gilding around it. A tiny chip to the inner well. Both cups are in 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. 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

In 1785, the Comte d'Angiviller, Director General of the King's Work, and overseer of the Sèvres manufactory purchased a collection of 525 "Estruscan" vessels from the collection formed b Dominique Vivant Denon in Naples.  for 30,000 livres. The purchase was originally destined to the museum being formed at the Louvre, though was transferred to Sèvres in June 1786. This purchase was to have a significant effect on the models produced Sèvres in the later 18th century. Gobelet à anses étrusques', was one of four cup shapes included in the service produced delivered in 1787 to the Château de Rambouillet, for use by Queen Marie-Antoinette's at her dairy. A working drawing and plaster model of this form is reproduced by Selma Schwartz, op. cit. Gold used as a ground colour is particularly rare in 18th century Sèvres porcelain. Among the earliest of Sèvres porcelain to be decorated in this way is an extraordinary gold-ground hard-paste tea kettle, bouillotte or bouillotte chine, decorated by Parpette, dated 1779, which was in the Hector Binney collection, sold in these rooms, 5th December 1989, lot 146.

Parpette decorated a pair of cups of this of form on 8 Pluviose an II [27th January 1794]: "2 gobelets et S. étrusques, fleurs pour fond d'or" (Vj5, f. 175). But since we know of two further cups and saucers identical to ours (private Collection, Wiltshire) this pair is just as likely to have been part of a set of six painted by him on 26 Nivose of the next year (15th January 1795). They were accompanied by a sugar bowl (Vj6, f. 73).

1. Surviving pieces include the example at Sèvres, Cité de la céreamique, inv. no. MNC6796, illustrated by Citera, op. cit., cover.
2. The kettle appears in the factory ledgers for 19th January 1779, Parpette was paid 48 livres to paint 'une bouilotte, fleurs sur fond or.'