Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

19th Century French Sevres Porcelain Tray Signed Moreaux

About the Item

This is an absolutely fabulous antique Sevres porcelain oval two-handled tray, dating from the mid-19th century. Beautifully hand-painted and commemorating a 1677 battle scene, the "Prise de Valenciennes" (Siege of Valenciennes), highlighted in gold on a Royal Blue ground and signed lower right, Moreau, the underside with the interlaced "L"s Sevres mark, a painted "Prise de Valenciennes" mark as well as a red printed Chateau mark. Condition: In really excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or repairs, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 3 x width 46 x depth 35 - Tray Dimensions in inches: Height 1 inch x width 1 foot, 6 inches x depth 1 foot, 2 inches - Tray Sevres Porcelain traces its roots in France to early craftsmen who had small manufacturing operations in such places as Lille, Rouen. St. Cloud, and most notably Chantilly. It is from Chantilly that a cadre of workers migrated to the Chateau de Vincennes near Paris to form a larger porcelain manufactory in 1738. French King Louis XV, perhaps inspired by his rumoured relationship with mistress Madame de Pompadour, took an intense interest in porcelain and moved the operation in 1756 to even larger quarters in the Paris suburb of Sevres. Sevres was also conveniently near the home of Madame de Pompadour and the King's own Palace at Versailles. From the outset the king's clear aim was to produce Sevres Porcelain that surpassed the established Saxony works of Meissen and Dresden. Though the French lacked an ample supply of kaolin, a required ingredient for hard-paste porcelain (pate dure), their soft-paste porcelain (pate tendre) was fired at a lower temperature and was thus compatible with a wider variety of colours and glazes that in many cases were also richer and more vivid. Unglazed white Sevres Porcelain "biscuit" figurines were also a great success. However, soft-paste Sevres Porcelain was more easily broken. Therefore, early pieces of Sevres Porcelain that remain intact have become rare indeed. The Sevres Porcelain manufactory always seemed to be in dire financial straits despite the incredibly fine works it produced. In fact, the king's insistence that only the finest items be created may have contributed to the difficulties. Only a limited number of European nobility could afford the extravagant prices demanded for such works. King Louis XV and eventually his heir, the ill-fated Louis XVI, were obliged to invest heavily in the enterprise. Ultimately, the Sevres Porcelain Factory produced items under the name of "Royal" and thus the well-known Sevres mark was born. King Louis XV even mandated laws that severely restricted other porcelain production in France so as to retain a near monopoly for his Sevres Porcelain. The king even willingly became chief salesman for the finest of his products, hosting an annual New Year's Day showing for French nobility in his private quarters at Versailles. He eagerly circulated among potential buyers, pitching the merits of ownership and policing the occasional light-fingered guest. Sevres Porcelain may have indeed given the makers of Meissen and Dresden a run for their money by the end of the 18th Century but for the French Revolution. By 1800, the Sevres Porcelain Works were practically out of business due to the economic devastation of the new French Republic. About the time when Napoleon Bonaparte named himself Emperor of France (1804), a new director was named for the Sevres Porcelain Manufactory. Alexandre Brongniart, highly educated in many fields, resurrected Sevres Porcelain. Soft-paste porcelain was eliminated altogether thanks to the earlier discovery of kaolin near Limoges. For four decades until his death, Brongniart presided over monumental progress for Sevres Porcelain, catering not only to Napoleon himself, but at last to include the more financially profitable mid-priced market in the emerging middle class. Our reference: 08080
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.19 in (3 cm)Width: 18.12 in (46 cm)Depth: 13.78 in (35 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1860
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 080801stDibs: LU95067149943

More From This Seller

View All
Antique French Sevres Oval Porcelain Dish Late 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a decorative antique French Sevres oval porcelain dish, dating from Circa 1880. The oval pierced borderwith gilt highlights with a striking Bleu Royal inner border, the cent...
Category

Antique 1880s French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Jewelry Casket, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fabulous antique French Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain jewelry casket, circa 1870 in date. This magnificent casket is rectangular in shape, with the top as well as each sid...
Category

Antique 1870s French Porcelain

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Sevres Porcelain Gilt Plate "Prise de Valence", 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Sevres porcelain cabinet plate, dating from the late 19th century. This superbly hand painted plate feat...
Category

Antique 1890s French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Sevres Porcelain Cabinet Plate "Camp du Rap" 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Sevres porcelain cabinet plate, Circa 1880 in date. It is superbly hand painted plate and features a ce...
Category

Antique 1880s French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Sevres Bisque Porcelain Bust Marie Antoinette 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fabulous decorative antique Sevres bisque porcelain bust of Marie Antoinette dating from Circa 1880 and bearing the blue painted inte...
Category

Antique 1880s French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Sèvres Porcelain Charger of Louis XVI, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an important large decorative antique French ormolu-mounted Sèvres Porcelain charger featuring portaits of Louis XVI and important members of his court, the rear with underglaze blue factory Sevres mark, mid-19th century in date. It has a striking Bleu Celeste and gilt tooled border with a central portrait of Louis XVI surounded by eight profile portraits of lady courtiers, including Marie Antoinette, Princess Marie-Louise Thérèse and Marquise de Montesson. There is no mistaking the quality and unique design of this charger which is sure to be a treasured addition to your home. Condition: In excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or signs of repair and only minor signs of wear associated with useuse, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 50 x width 50 x depth 3 Dimensions in inches: Height 19.7 x width 19.7 x depth 1.2 Louis XVI was king of France when the monarchy was overthrown during the French Revolution and was guillotined in 1793. Louis was born at Versailles on 23 August 1754. In 1770, he married Marie Antoinette, daughter of the emperor and empress of Austria...
Category

Antique 1850s French Porcelain

Materials

Ormolu

You May Also Like

French Sèvres Signed Marked Early 19th Century Porcelain Plate Platter Charger
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful early 1800s French Sèvres porcelain oval serving platter/charger/centerpiece. This piece features gorgeous pink glaze, gold gilt decoration, and gold rim coloring. The ...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vase Signed Sèvres, France, Late 19th Century
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Porcelain and gilt bronze vase signed Sèvres, France, late 19th century.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Sevres Porcelain Milk Jug, 1847s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very nice 20th porcelain milk jug made by the French and famous manufacture of Sevres. We can see three stamp at the back : the stamp of sevres 1040, the red stamp...
Category

Antique 1840s French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

19th French Century Signed Samson Porcelain
By Edmé Samson
Located in Roma, IT
19th French Century Signed Samson Porcelain Beautiful and rare hand-decorated porcelain bowl from the famous Edmé Samson manufacture (b Paris, 1810; d Paris, 1891). Displays the ori...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Neoclassical Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Sevres Style Porcelain Pedestal
Located in Southall, GB
This outstanding pedestal beautifully exhibits the style and grace of the famed Sèvres porcelain manufactory. This exceptional piece features a lustrous light blue base, which provid...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Sevres French Fine Porcelain Gilded Ormolu Comport 19th Century
Located in Nottingham, GB
In good condition From a private collection Free international shipping Sevres French Fine Porcelain Gilded Ormolu Comport 19th Century
Category

Antique 19th Century Porcelain

Materials

Ormolu

Recently Viewed

View All