Pair of plates; Sèvres, France, c. 1780.

Pair of plates; Sèvres, France, c. 1780.
Glazed and enameled porcelain.
Measurements: 47 x 47 x 2 cm (x2).
Conceived as a pair, these works dialogue with each other through a carefully calculated symmetry, designed to enrich the interiors of the French aristocracy. They are not simply decorative objects, but authentic "porcelain paintings". The ornamental frame, profusely decorated with scrolls, garlands and plant motifs, reveals the technical and artistic mastery that made Sèvres the undisputed benchmark of 18th century European porcelain. Although the neoclassical taste was beginning to prevail at the time, these plates still retain the lightness and grace inherited from the rococo, visible in the fluidity of the drawing and the delicate palette of pinks, greens and golds. Made of enameled and glazed porcelain, these plates summarize the artistic ideal of their time: both for their formal perfection and their ability to evoke the splendor of France at the end of the Ancien Régime.
The Sèvres porcelain manufactory originated in 18th century France. It was founded in 1740 in Vincennes and moved to Sèvres, near Versailles, in 1756, under the patronage of King Louis XV and his mistress Madame de Pompadour. From its inception, the Sèvres manufactory received royal patronage, which made it possible to attract the best craftsmen and artists of the time. This support also ensured that the porcelain produced was of the highest quality and luxury, destined for European royalty and nobility. Sèvres porcelain is known for its fine quality, hardness and translucency. It is made from a hard paste containing kaolin, feldspar and quartz.