Lot Essay
The Sèvres artists' ledgers of 1778 and 1779 contain references to items described as "service (à) poin(s) d'Espagne". 18 assiettes à potage are recorded against Barrat, Chapuis l'aîné (painter of the present example) La Roche and Nicquet between 23 January 1779 and 3 March 1779. They then appear in the Kiln books between 15 May 1779 and 28 February 1780 with a similar description, in some cases the gilder is identified as Prévost (the gilder of the present example), see David Peters, Sèvres Plates and Services of the 18th Century (Little Berkhamsted, 2005), Vol. IV, p. 864-5. The author concludes that these assiettes à potage gilded by Prevost were from the part of the service which was given to Sultan Tipoo (see below).
David Peters discuses these supplements to a service originally delivered to Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis-Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon, ministre des Affaires Etrangères, probably intended as a diplomatic gift but never sent. This extensive service was retained at the Ministry and appears in several archives before being returned to the factory in 1776 in part exchange for a service, see David Peters, op. cit., Vol. II, pp. 485-487, service no. 73-4.
In 1781-2, part of this service and supplementary pieces were delivered to the dealers M.M. Keindal and Causnauva, see Davis Peters, op. cit., (Little Berkhamsted, 2005) Vol. III, pp. 631-633, service no. 81-7. Much of this service is now in the collection of the Marquess of Bath at Longleat House, Wiltshire.
Further elements of this service, now described as à dentelle en or et Guirlandes' were supplied to César-Henri, Mg le Cte de la Luzerne, Ministre de la Marine and was recorded in the Sèvres archives on 12 September 1788 (Vy 19 Fol. 276 v°). The service was part of an extensive gift of porcelain by Louis XVI to Tipoo Sultan, Sultan of Mysore delivered via three emissaries who visited the French Court on 9 June 1788. See David Peters, op. cit. (Little Berkhamsted, 2005) Vol. IV, pp. 863-866, service no. 88-14.
Sultan Fateh Ali Tipu (1750-1799), known as the 'Tiger of Mysore' was an innovative and powerful military leader who allied himself with the French and influcted several humiliating defeats on the British.
Antoine-Joseph Chappuis was a painter of flowers and birds active at Sèvres from 1761 to 1787. Henri-Martin Prévost was a gilder active at Sèvres from 1757 to 1797.
David Peters discuses these supplements to a service originally delivered to Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis-Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon, ministre des Affaires Etrangères, probably intended as a diplomatic gift but never sent. This extensive service was retained at the Ministry and appears in several archives before being returned to the factory in 1776 in part exchange for a service, see David Peters, op. cit., Vol. II, pp. 485-487, service no. 73-4.
In 1781-2, part of this service and supplementary pieces were delivered to the dealers M.M. Keindal and Causnauva, see Davis Peters, op. cit., (Little Berkhamsted, 2005) Vol. III, pp. 631-633, service no. 81-7. Much of this service is now in the collection of the Marquess of Bath at Longleat House, Wiltshire.
Further elements of this service, now described as à dentelle en or et Guirlandes' were supplied to César-Henri, M
Sultan Fateh Ali Tipu (1750-1799), known as the 'Tiger of Mysore' was an innovative and powerful military leader who allied himself with the French and influcted several humiliating defeats on the British.
Antoine-Joseph Chappuis was a painter of flowers and birds active at Sèvres from 1761 to 1787. Henri-Martin Prévost was a gilder active at Sèvres from 1757 to 1797.