THREE SEVRES PORCELAIN 'BLEU AGATE' CAMEO PORTRAIT PLATES FROM THE 'SERVICE DES ILLUSTRES FRANCAIS'

DATED 1838, 1840, AND 1844, EACH WITH BLACK OR BLUE STENCILED CROWNED LP MARKS, VARIOUS INCISED POTTERS' MARKS, TWO WITH PAINTER'S F MARK, ALL WITH GILDER'S M MARKS

Details

Each with a pale blue border with scrolling gilt leafy foliage, the centers with cameo portraits of François Chevert, J.B. Poquelin de Moliére and A.R. Jacques Turgot in Greek key and foliate borders, a further description of the figure on the reverse
9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) diameter


Lot Essay

The present plates are from a dessert service designed in 1835 according to a program set out by the then director of the factory, Alexandre Brongniart; each plate painted as a cameo with the portrait of a French man of letters, with the reverse inscribed with his full name, place and date of birth. Portraying learned men, philosophers, statesmen, etc., the service included 212 plates, 2 baskets, 2 sugar-bowls, and 2 tiered cake stands. Completed in 1849, it was delivered to the Minister of Education in July 1851. Five plates from this service were sold at Christie's, New York, 29-30 November 2012, lot 228.