BLUE INTERLACED L'S ENCLOSING DATE LETTERS GG FOR 1784, PAINTER'S MARK FOR VIELLARD, INCISED 42 TO THE CAN, 36 TO THE SAUCER

The scenes on the present cup and saucer are contemporary with the advent of hot air ballooning. The first successful launch was made by Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier in 1783. The saucer depicts Blanchard's first flight by hydrogen balloon on 2 March 1784 from Paris to a plain near the factory at Sèvres. A similar saucer showing the landing is in the W.J. Sainsbury Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Another saucer was sold by Phillips, 8 June 1988, lot 201. A smaller cup and saucer similarly decorated by Viellard from The Alexander Collection was sold Christie's, New York, 30 April 1999, lot 299.