Plate, from the "Eden" Service (One of Sixteen)
Medium
ceramics
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The John Jay Ide Collection
Accession Number
1986-29-16
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite plate, one of sixteen from the "Eden" Service, was crafted by the renowned Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory in France in 1787. Established in 1756 under royal patronage, Sèvres became synonymous with luxury ceramics, producing soft-paste porcelain of unparalleled finesse for the French aristocracy. At the cusp of the French Revolution, such pieces embodied the opulence of the Ancien Régime, often featuring intricate hand-painted scenes, gilding, and delicate modeling that showcased the manufactory's technical mastery. The "Eden" Service likely drew inspiration from idyllic, pastora...