拍品專文
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.