Lot Essay
The present dish is only one of eight plats d'hors-d'oeuvres made for this service. The flower painting is by Louis-Jean Thévenet père, recorded at Vincennes and Sèvres from 1741-1777.
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The following two lots are part of what is referred to as the Louis XV Service, the first large service produced by Vincennes. Its creation marked the introduction of bleu céleste as well as many new shapes designed specifically for the service by the goldsmith Jean-Claude Duplessis. It was delivered to the king in three stages: on 24 December 1753, 31 December 1754 and 31 December 1755, and comprised a total of 1,749 pieces at a total cost of 87,272 livres. Additional deliveries were made in 1756 and 1757, and, although the king disposed of part of the service in May 1757, further supplements were purchased in 1771 and 1773.
The duc de Croÿ mentioned the service in his journal entry of 4th February 1754, following a dinner at Versailles: Louis XV "nous occupa à déballer son beau service blue, blanc et or, de Vincennes, que l'on venait de renvoyer de Paris, où on l'avait étalé auz yeux des conaisseurs. C'était un des premiers chefs-d'oeuvre de cette nouvelle manufacture de porcelaines qui prétendait surpasser et faire tomber celle de Saxe. La Marquise, à qui le Roi avait donné le village de Sèvres, faisant faire de très grands travaux pour l'y établir à côté de la verrerie. Il y avait des pièces charmantes de ce service, plus agréable que d'usage. La pâte et le blanc me parurent très beaux et approchant du Japon" (quoted by R. Savill, "La premier service de porcelaine de Louis XV", in Versailles et les tables royales en Europe, exhibition catalogue, Musée National des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon, 1993 to 1994, p. 281).
For further discussion of the Louis XV Service, see P. Grégory, "Le service bleu céleste de Louis XV à Versailles: quelques pièces retrouvées", in Revue du Louvre, no.1, February 1982, pp.40-46; and R. Savill, "La premier service...", pp.281-285. An oval stand (plateau de pot oille) from the service was sold in these rooms, 14 July 1998, lot 77.
A VINCENNES PORCELAIN BLEU CELESTE OBLONG OCTAGONAL DISH FROM THE FIRST LOUIS XV SERVICE (PLAT A HORS D'OEUVRES 'CARRE A CORDON')
CIRCA 1753, BLUE INTERLACED L'S AND PAINTER'S MARK FOR THEVENET PERE, INCISED W
Details
A VINCENNES PORCELAIN BLEU CELESTE OBLONG OCTAGONAL DISH FROM THE FIRST LOUIS XV SERVICE (PLAT A HORS D'OEUVRES 'CARRE A CORDON')
CIRCA 1753, BLUE INTERLACED L'S AND PAINTER'S MARK FOR THEVENET PERE, INCISED W
The center finely painted with a spray of flowers and berries, the border with four shaped oval panels of flowering vine edged in distinctive gilt scrollwork and floral garlands
10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) wide
CIRCA 1753, BLUE INTERLACED L'S AND PAINTER'S MARK FOR THEVENET PERE, INCISED W
The center finely painted with a spray of flowers and berries, the border with four shaped oval panels of flowering vine edged in distinctive gilt scrollwork and floral garlands
10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm.) wide
Provenance
Delivered to Louis XV, 1753-1754.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 30 September 1991, lot 109.
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 30 September 1991, lot 109.
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