A Sevres Beau Bleu Porcelain Coffee Can and a Saucer (Gobelet 'Litron', 2eme Grandeur et sa Soucoupe, 3eme†Grandeur)
Circa 1785
the cup with gilt interlaced Ls and incised 36D F, the still life painting attributed to Micaud, the gilding to Le Guay, the saucer with blue interlaced Ls enclosing date letter HH, painter's mark for Julien†le jeune, unidentified PR and incised 117; the cup painted in colors with a still life of fruit and flowers in a basket on a marble ledge reserved within a gilt cisele band and with tiny gold foil stars applied to the cobalt blue ground, the substitute saucer with a central jewelled star within a sunburst, the border with gilt foil stars between gilt bands.Height of cup 2 3/4 inches; diameter of saucer 4 5/8 inches.
This lot is located in Chicago.

Provenance:
Mary Poter Walsh, Oklahoma City;
Christie's, New York, Fine French and Continental & European Ceramics and [...], 16-18 November 1999, Lot 221
Rinceaux, Palm Beach, no. 1101, 30 May 2000 (with invoice)

Note:
The present gobelet 'Litron' is almost certainly a cup missing from a part cabaret retained in the British Royal Collection.

In 1826, an inventory of the Confectionary at Carlton House noted 'no. 239: A Dejeuni of blue with gold stars, painted in fruit and flowers. Consisting of five Cups & Saucers, Teapot, Sugar Bason and Cover, Cream Ewer and Slop Bason.' Of these, only the sugar bowl and cover (pot a sucre 'Calabre' 1eregrandeur), one cup (gobelet 'Litron', 2eme grandeur) and two saucers (soucoupes, 2eme grandeur) remain in the Royal Collection. A comparison of the present cup with the illustrations in Sir Geoffrey's comprehensive catalogue leave little doubt that the still lifes of a basket of flowers on a marble table found on each piece are by the same hand. That the factory mark on the present cup also corresponds to the other pieces in this cabaret helps solidify the attribution of the lush still life painting on the present cup to Jacques-Francois Micaud pere (active 1757-1810 as a flower painter), the stars and gilding to Le Guay (active 1751-1797 as a gilder), and the piece itself as originally part of this service.

See Sir Geoffrey de Bellaigue, French Porcelain: In the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, London, Vol. III, cat. no. 251, pp. 895-898 for a detailed discussion of these pieces and of what is almost certainly the payment records for Micaud and Le Guay when they worked on this service, executed between May 1784 and April 1785.

Julien le jeune (active 1784-1786), is recorded at Sevres as a painter specializing in flowers and as a gilder. His mark appears only on the slightly small replacement saucer with gilt decoration.

In generally good condition, some foil stars starting to lift or lacking a point here and there.Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold "as is," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction. The physical condition of lots can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration. Prospective buyers are strongly advised to inspect a lot personally or through a knowledgeable representative prior to bidding. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the effects of aging. Prospective buyers must review and agree to the Conditions of Sale before participating in an auction, and it is the responsibility of the buyer to ensure that they have requested, received and considered any condition report.