YONGZHENG PERIOD, CIRCA 1733

Details

A CHINESE EXPORT FRENCH ROYAL ARMORIAL BIDET
YONGZHENG PERIOD, CIRCA 1733
Enameled with the Royal arms of Louis XV within collars of the Orders of Saint-Michel and Saint-Esprit, the interior and exterior painted with blossoming branches supporting bowls of fruit alternating with circular panels enclosing lotus or fans, the rim a band of gilt and iron-red scrolling lotus punctuated by cartouches of addorsed L's; together with a later Louis XV-style mahogany stand
20 ½ in. (52 cm.) long

Provenance

Louis XV, King of France and Navarre.
Descended in the Orléans family.
Gifted to a French noble family by Charles X circa 1830.

Conditions of sale

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Victoria Tudor

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Lot Essay

In 1733 Louis XV ordered from the Compagnie des Indes "...douze bidets aux armes du Roy, conformément au dessein joint." This actually preceded the order for his very famous and elaborate dinner service of similar decoration, which was executed in 1738. See S. Castellucio, L'Objet D'Art, April 2011.

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