Essex service (1764 - 1770) by Sèvres porcelain factoryRoyal Collection Trust, UK
World of Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic ware crafted after heating a mixture of raw materials. It was first developed in China, 2000 years ago but the recipe was kept a secret. It was not until the early 18th century that the formula of making hard paste porcelain was discovered in Germany.
What is Sèvres Porcelain?
Sèvres porcelain is hard paste porcelain made at the royal factory of Sèvres, France since 1756. It is one of the finest quality of porcelain in Europe and regarded as the symbol of power and prestige of the French State.
Louis Xv King Of France 1710 - 1774LIFE Photo Collection
Sèvres porcelain enjoyed patronage by King Louis XV and Louis XVI of France, Napoleon, Madame De Pompadour (chief mistress of King Louis XV), Marie Antoinette (wife of King Louis XVI). It has always remained in the hands of French government during war, revolution , prosperity and peace.
Sevres, La Seine à Meudon (1852 - 1853) by Henri-Victor RegnaultThe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
History of Sèvres Porcelain
To compete with Meissen factory in Germany, King Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour funded a ceramic factory at Vincennes in 1740 which majorly produced glass and soft paste porcelains. This factory was later moved to Sèvres by name 'Manufacture Nationale De Sèvres’ in 1756.
Sèvres 1753-1900: National Sèvres porcelain factory architectural fragment in porcelain stoneware (1900) by AnonymousÉcole Polytechnique
In 1768, a major breakthrough came in the Sèvres factory as deposits of Kaolin; main ingredient in Chinese hard paste porcelain was found on French soils. After that, there was no looking back! The factory produced the very best quality of porcelains and until 1780’s they had monopoly in painted porcelains.
Writing Table (bureau plat), Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory Mark (about 1778) by Martin Carlin, At least seven plaques gilded by Jean-Baptiste-Emmanuel Vandé, Sèvres ManufactoryThe J. Paul Getty Museum
Sèvres Marks
Sèvres porcelain is very often marked with two blue-painted interlaced L’s. This in turn often encloses a letter or double letter, which acts as a code for the year in which the piece was produced. The factory allowed its painters to add their 'marks' as well.
Collection of Sèvres Porcelain at the Salar Jung Museum
Salar Jung Museum's collection of Sèvres porcelain is ample. More than hundred pieces of vases, plates, trinket boxes, saucers and cups, pots for milk, tea and sugar along with trays, flower stands forms the collection. A good number of these date back to 18th century.
Vase (Mid-Eighteenth Century)Salar Jung Museum
Empress Catherine II's Vase
One of the leading purchasers of Sèvres porcelain was Empress Catherine II of Russia (1729-96). She once ordered a big set of 744 pieces which took 3-4 years to produce.
Mark: Crossed ‘L’
Year of Production: 1753
Vase with bust of Catherine II
This royal blue vase has the painted bust of Catherine II on one side and the letter 'H' encircled in an 'E' shaped wreath on other side.
Vase with Napolean's figure (1804/1809)Salar Jung Museum
Vase with Napoleon's figure
Napoleon recognized the enormous political value of Sèvres porcelain early on and exercised his powers towards change in their design and patronage. This green vase has painted figures of Napoleon and his consorts.
Mark: ‘M IMPLE DE SEVRES’
Year of Production: 1804-1809
Sevres Bleu Plate (1764/1764)Salar Jung Museum
Sèvres blue
Sèvres factory invented a completely new shade of blue, a distinctive inky, dark blue, commonly known as 'Bleu Sèvres'. This blue plate is decorated with stones with a figure of a painted couple at the centre.
Mark: Cross ‘L’ with letter L inside it
Year of production - 1764
Plate with Louis XVI portrait (1801/1899)Salar Jung Museum
Plate with Louis XVI's portrait
This round Turkish blue coloured plate depicts painted portraits of six royal ladies with portrait of King Louis XVI of France in the centre.
Mark: Crossed ‘L’
Year of Production: 19th century
Plate with Louis XVI's portrait
Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette were devoted towards the growth of Sèvres porcelain and extended their patronage towards its growth.
Decorative Plate with figure of a noble (1804/1809)Salar Jung Museum
Decorative plate with figure of a noble
This sepia green plate depicts painting of bust of a noble in the centre. It is surrounded by a gilt circle with a series of bees designed along the borders. It is signed by the maker ‘Mal Mortier’
Mark: M Imple De Sevres
Year of production: 1804-09
Blue colored vase Blue colored vase (1765/1765)Salar Jung Museum
Blue Coloured Vase
This Turkish blue coloured vase with bronze rim and human masked mounts below handles on either side rests on a gilded pedestal. The central panel is a painted landscape. It is signed by the makers ‘H. Berten’ .
Mark: Crossed ‘L’ with letter M
Year of production: 1765
Josephene (1804/1808)Salar Jung Museum
Figure of Josephine
This standing figure of Josephine, the wife of Napoleon is draped in her coronation robe with a fan in her hand and crown on her head. This figure is proof that the Sèvres porcelain factory aimed to create new forms.
Mark: Mre le de Sevres
Year of Production: 1804-09
Sevres plate with crown mark (1773/1773)Salar Jung Museum
Sèvres Plate with Crown Mark
From 1770s onwards, new wares at Sèvres factory were marked with a crown over the interlaced ‘L’. This blue plate with a painting of a couple in the central panel has a crown mark at the back.
Mark: Crossed ‘L’ with letter ‘U’ inside and crown on top.
Year of Production: 1773
Green colored Cup (1804/1809)Salar Jung Museum
Sèvres Cup with portrait of a Noble
Green colored cup with a gilt handle and a panel representing painting of a nobleman. It is signed by the maker ‘Mal Mortier’
Mark: M Imple de Sevres
Year of production: 1804-09
Royal Blue Plate (1700/1799)Salar Jung Museum
Royal Blue Plate
This royal blue porcelain depicts painting of a couple seated near a river. The dark borders with gold work compliments the light colored background in the painting.
Mark: Cross ‘L’ with letter B inside and letter A beneath
Year of Production: 18th century
Text and Curation: Pallavi Baheti
Photography: M. Krishnamurthy and Bahadur Ali
Research Assistance: Dinesh Singh
Special Thanks to Dr. A. Nagender Reddy, Director, Salar Jung Museum and Soma Ghosh, Librarian, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, India.
References:
1) B.Kotaiah (2020), Art Treasures of Salar Jung Museum, Salar Jung Museum Board
2) Christies (2022), Collecting guide: Sevres porcelain.
https://www.christies.com/features/Sevres-porcelain-collecting-guide-8706-1.aspx
3) G.G. Krishnaiah, Salar Jung Museum Research Journal, Vol. 1
4) Encyclopedia's Britannica
