A SEVRES (HARD PASTE) ETRUSCAN-RED-GROUND PLATE FROM A SERVICE ORDERED BY PRINCE NAPOLEON

Prince Napoleon's mistress was the tragic actress Mademoiselle Rachel (Rachel Félix, 1828-58), and it is thought that the service was used in her salle à manger pompéienne in the 'Pompeian' house that the Prince had built on the east side of the Avenue Montaigne in Paris. The dessert-service is described in the factory archives as 'fd. rouge décor étrusque' and was delivered on 18th October 1856. It included 72 assiettes at a mean price of 76 francs. Six painters are recorded as working on the service and some of the subjects depicted were adapted from engravings in Antichità d'Ercolano.