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Lot Essay
These plates are probably part of a soft and hard paste Sèvres service supplied to the banker Georges Grand in 1792 for a client. As Grand was known to act as an intermediary for clients, according to other purchases which he made from the Sèvres factory, it is currently not known if the service was originally destined for himself or another recipient.
The service entered the Marquess of Camden's Collection at Bayham Abbey, although it is not known when it was acquired. This illustrious political family descended from John Pratt, Lord Chief Justice 1718-1725, and his third son from his second marriage, Charles Pratt, served as Lord Chancellor from 1766-1770. In 1786 he was created Viscount Bayham and Earl Camden. His son, John Pratt, was a politician and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord President of the Council. In 1812 he was created Earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden.
The birds were copied directly from François-Nicolas Martinet's illustrations for Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon's ornithological publication, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, published in ten volumes between 1770-1786. The majority of this service was offered in these Rooms on 31 March 2008, lot 15, where most of the plates were painted by Étienne Evans (active at Sèvres from 1752 to 1800) and Pierre Massy (active at Sèvres from 1779 to 1802).
The service entered the Marquess of Camden's Collection at Bayham Abbey, although it is not known when it was acquired. This illustrious political family descended from John Pratt, Lord Chief Justice 1718-1725, and his third son from his second marriage, Charles Pratt, served as Lord Chancellor from 1766-1770. In 1786 he was created Viscount Bayham and Earl Camden. His son, John Pratt, was a politician and served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord President of the Council. In 1812 he was created Earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden.
The birds were copied directly from François-Nicolas Martinet's illustrations for Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon's ornithological publication, Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux, published in ten volumes between 1770-1786. The majority of this service was offered in these Rooms on 31 March 2008, lot 15, where most of the plates were painted by Étienne Evans (active at Sèvres from 1752 to 1800) and Pierre Massy (active at Sèvres from 1779 to 1802).