Ice cream cup (tasse à glace) (one of thirty-one) (part of a service)

Art Historical Context

This delicate ice cream cup, or *tasse à glace*, in 1780 by the Sèvres Manuf with gilding by Jean Chauvaux, exemplifies pinnacle of French porcelain artistry during the late Louis XVI period. Produced at the royal factory in Sèvres, near Paris, it formed part of an opulent service of thirty-one cups, designed for the elite's lavish desserts. At just 2½ × 2⅞ inches, its petite scale highlights the technical mastery required for such intricate luxury goods, reserved for aristocratic tables amid the Enlightenment's embrace of refined neoclassicism. Made from soft-paste porcelain—a Sèvres specialty prized for its creamy translucency and ability to hold vibrant colors before the shift to harder formulas—the cup likely features hand-painted floral motifs, evoking the era's passion for nature-inspired elegance. Gold accents by Chauvaux would have gleamed under candlelight, enhancing its jewel-like allure. These pieces weren't mere dishes; they symbolized France's cultural dominance in decorative arts, often customized for nobility and diplomats. Today, this cup graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art, thanks to the 1934 bequest of Emma T. Gary. It invites us to savor the artistry of a bygone age, where porcelain bridged utility and splendor. (198 words)

About the Artist

Sèvres Manufactory|Jean Chauvaux · 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...