Tray (part of a service)
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Overall: 1 3/4 × 10 × 13 5/8 in. (4.4 × 25.4 × 34.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Sèvres
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Emma T. Gary, 1934
Accession Number
37.20.9
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant tray, crafted by the renowned Sèvres Manuf in France around 1759–60, exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-century porcelain artistry. Produced under royal patronage during the lavish reign of Louis XV,èvres specialized in soft-paste porcelain delicate, creamy material prized for its ability to mimic costly Chinese hard-paste imports while allowing vibrant overglaze enameling and gilding. Charles-Louis Méreaud the decorative motifs, likely featuring lush fruit designs that evoke abundance and the Rococo era's love for naturalistic opulence. As part of a larger service, this shallow, r...
About the Artist
Sèvres Manufactory|Charles-Louis Méreaud · 1740–present
The Sèvres Manufactory, one of Europe's premier porcelain producers, was established in 1740 as the Manufacture de Vincennes under the patronage of Queen Marie Leszczyńska, who sought to rival Meissen and Chantilly porcelains with French soft-paste innovations. Initially a private venture, it relocated to Sèvres in 1756 in a purpose-built facility designed by architect Laurent Lindet near Madame d...