Lot Essay
An extraordinary array of wonderful forms comprised this French royal service. This particular shape was inspired by models produced at both St. Cloud and Rouen. Other Chinese export examples were sold Christie's, Monaco, 22 June 1989, lot 77, and Christie's, New York, 14 October 1999, lot 114. Two candlesticks from the collection of Benjamin F. Edwards III were sold Christie's, New York, 22 January 2002, lot 136.
The refined decoration of the service relates closely to other Yongzheng period patterns, with the addorsed Ls in its border possibly representing the King's initial. It was likely ordered after the 1729 royal inventory, in which it does not appear. The service descended in the Orleans family until Louis-Philppe, King of France 1830-48, gave it to a French nobleman, in whose family much remains today. See A. Lebel, Christie's International Magazine, January 2003.
The refined decoration of the service relates closely to other Yongzheng period patterns, with the addorsed Ls in its border possibly representing the King's initial. It was likely ordered after the 1729 royal inventory, in which it does not appear. The service descended in the Orleans family until Louis-Philppe, King of France 1830-48, gave it to a French nobleman, in whose family much remains today. See A. Lebel, Christie's International Magazine, January 2003.