Inkstand

Designed by Jean-Claude Duplessis père, this is perhaps the most important object in Sèvres porcelain in the Wallace Collection. Only two other examples of this design are recorded, but this one has particular prestige because it was given by Louis XV to his favourite daughter, Madame Adélaïde. Two medallions reveal this: one in the centre of the tray shows the grisaille head of Louis XV, and another at one end bears the gilded monogram MA (for Marie-Adélaïde). The terrestrial globe on the right contained an inkwell, and the celestial globe on the left (with the signs of the Zodiac and piercings for stars) contained a globular, silver-gilt sand shaker. Inside the cushion was a sponge for Madame Adélaïde to wipe her pen, and inside the crown of France, resting on the cushion, was a bell for her to ring when she wanted her maid to collect the letter she had written.