A Sèvres soup plate from the 'Comte d'Aranda' service, dated 1787
Painted by Henry-Germain Boileau (fils) with a bouquet of flowers and fruit in the well surrounded by three gilt line borders, stylised flowers issuing from the last, the blue-ground rim reserved with three long panels edged with gilding and enclosing flower sprays, alternating with elaborate gilt foliate and floral scrollwork, 24.2cm diam., interlaced LL monogram enclosing date letter kk, painter's mark Bo and gilder's mark for Chauvaux (père) (some glaze scratches and retouching to gilding)
Footnotes:
Provenance:
Presented by Louis XVI to Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea Ximinez de Urréa, Conde de Aranda (1718-1798)

The service was listed in the sale records in 1787 and was given as a diplomatic gift to the Comte d'Aranda, the Spanish Ambassador-Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France from 12 September 1773 to 23 September 1787.
The Count was President of the Council of Spain and principal advisor to Carlos III, King of Spain, and was an accomplished diplomat with a reputation for liberal ideas. The presentation of the service marked the conclusion of his ambassadorship in France.

The gift is recorded in the Journal des Présents du Roi on 16.9.1787 as 'une Service de porcelaine Sève' with a total price of 43,428 livres. A substantial part of the service was sold at Christie's London, 11 March 1836, lots 72-84 and 86-93. A dinner plate was sold in these rooms, 6 July 2021, lot 217, and a soup plate, 7 December 2022, lot 160.

For a full discussion of the service, see David Peters, Sèvres Plates and Services of the 18th Century (2005), vol. IV, no. 87-7.

There is scattered retouching to the gilding overall, but mainly to the narrow gilt bands, the gilt rim, and the gilding in the well. There is also a bit of scattered rubbing along the gilt bands on the edge of the well and rim and small areas of wear and scratches here and there to the gilding overall. There are scattered scratches to the glaze surface, especially across the rim border. There are also various scattered small scratches to the enamels of the flowers on the rim and in the well, and some rubbing to the enamels in the well.

Further images are available upon request.

Otherwise generally good condition.