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Lot Essay
In 1821, Alexandre Brongniart, Director of the Sèvres Manufactory, decided to produce a series of gueridons, 'Pour objet principal d'employer des plaques qui ont besoin de repasser ou qui trop imparfaites pour de belles peintures. Par consequent les fonds au grand feu doivent être souvent employés'. This illustrates the difficulties of producing very large faultless placques which therefore could only be used if they were painted throughout (Carton Pb5, liasse 2(2), dossier 'Guéridons 1821-'24', see T. Préaud, et.al, The Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory Alexandre Brongniart and The Triumph of Art and Industry 1800-1847, pp. 238-239, fig 55a).
The present example would appear to be the first of two similar pieces listed in the sales records on 15 December 1821, which was described as '1 guéridon de 50 cm, milieu lapis, marbres divers tige blanche monté en bronze'. The price of production was 949,50 francs, while the sale price was 900 francs (MNS, Archives, Registre Vv 1, folio 169, no. 33). The second example is in the Musée National de Ceramique de Sèvres. The two gueridons were finished just in time for the Royal Manufactures' New Year exhibition at the Louvre (Exposition des Manufactures Royales, Paris, 1821, p. 12, nos 11-12). The simulated marble decoration was probably a project of Leloy and the Sèvres Manufactory still preserves the samples of the marbles which were the models for the decoration.
The present example would appear to be the first of two similar pieces listed in the sales records on 15 December 1821, which was described as '1 guéridon de 50 cm, milieu lapis, marbres divers tige blanche monté en bronze'. The price of production was 949,50 francs, while the sale price was 900 francs (MNS, Archives, Registre Vv 1, folio 169, no. 33). The second example is in the Musée National de Ceramique de Sèvres. The two gueridons were finished just in time for the Royal Manufactures' New Year exhibition at the Louvre (Exposition des Manufactures Royales, Paris, 1821, p. 12, nos 11-12). The simulated marble decoration was probably a project of Leloy and the Sèvres Manufactory still preserves the samples of the marbles which were the models for the decoration.