BLACK INTERLACED L'S ENCLOSING DATE-LETTER U FOR 1773, PAINTER'S CP FOR ANTOINE-JOSE CHAPPUIS, GILDERS LG FOR ETIENNE-HENRY LE GUAY AND VD FOR JEAN-BAPTISTE-EMMANUEL VANDE, PERE

The present bowl is from a service sold to Mme Lair at some point during the second half of 1773. See David Peters, Sèvres Plates and Services, privately printed, 2005, vol. II, no. 73-6 for a discussion of the purchase. Using the prices paid as a guide, Peters postulates that this service must have been painted with birds and/or flowers on a colored ground. He also notes where other pieces from the service are now known, among which are Goodwood House, West Sussex, Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire and in various auction sales. The compliment of pieces that likely formed the service would have included two salad bowls of the second size at a cost of 108 livres each. The second of these was with John Whitehead in 2007.