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Lot 37The Augustus Collection of Important French and Continental Porcelain, Part I
A SEVRES (HARD PASTE) PORCELAIN BLACK-GROUND CHINOISERIE CUP AND SAUCER
CIRCA 1795, IRON-RED SCRIPT SEVRES MARK, PAINTER'S X, LIKELY FOR J.-F. MICAUD PERE
Closed5 April 2022
Price Realised
USD 15,120
More Information
Specialist note
Although a concentrated dark blue ground, which the eye reads as black, was developed at Sèvres in the early 1780s, it was not until 6 May 1791 that the first of a series of services recorded in the factory records as "fond noir Chinois en or de couleurs et platine fleurs mail" was delivered to "A.M. de Semonville Ambassadeur" (Peters 91-2). Subsequent services include that sold to Monsieur Milmes [sic] in 1792 (Peters 92-4) and a third large group of wares and sets of plates to the dealer Citoyen Empaytaz & Cie (Peters 94-11).
Interest in this style of decoration may have been spurred on by the production of some important suites of lacquer furniture delivered to the royal family at the palaces of Versailles, Saint-Cloud, Compiègne and Bellevue in the 1780s. The use of platinum in place of silver was introduced at this time, the main advantage being that the platinum did not tarnish. See Selma Schwartz, "Chinoiserie Decoration on Black-ground Sèvres Porcelain", Schwartz Porcelain - The Lacquer Craze and its Impact on European Porcelain, Exhibition Catalogue, Museum für Lackkunst and Schloss Favorite near Rastatt, 2003, vol. III, pp. 98-107 for an analysis of the factory's production - the different permutations in which black ground gilt and platinum Chinoiserie decoration appears on teawares, service wares, and vases at Sèvres, a discussion of the likely sources for the decoration, and the 18th century European taste for Japanese lacquer that prompted its production.
Jacques-François Micaud père is recorded as a painter of flowers and patterns at the manufactory from 1757-1810.
Interest in this style of decoration may have been spurred on by the production of some important suites of lacquer furniture delivered to the royal family at the palaces of Versailles, Saint-Cloud, Compiègne and Bellevue in the 1780s. The use of platinum in place of silver was introduced at this time, the main advantage being that the platinum did not tarnish. See Selma Schwartz, "Chinoiserie Decoration on Black-ground Sèvres Porcelain", Schwartz Porcelain - The Lacquer Craze and its Impact on European Porcelain, Exhibition Catalogue, Museum für Lackkunst and Schloss Favorite near Rastatt, 2003, vol. III, pp. 98-107 for an analysis of the factory's production - the different permutations in which black ground gilt and platinum Chinoiserie decoration appears on teawares, service wares, and vases at Sèvres, a discussion of the likely sources for the decoration, and the 18th century European taste for Japanese lacquer that prompted its production.
Jacques-François Micaud père is recorded as a painter of flowers and patterns at the manufactory from 1757-1810.