Plate (Assiette à palmes) (1 of 102) (part of a service)

Art Historical Context

This delicate "Assiette à pal" (Plate with Palms), one of 102 pieces from a grand porcelain service, was crafted by the prestigious Sèvres Manuf in 1780. Made of soft-paste porcelain—a, translucent material that Sèvres perfected for its superior painting qualities—the plate measures 9 3/4 inches in diameter.ated with roses by skilled artists Jacques-François-Louis deoche and Guillaume Noël, distinctive scalloped rim evokes palm fronds, a signature Sèvres shape for elegant tableware. Founded in 1740 under Louis XV, Sèvres became the royal porcelain factory, supplying the French court with luxurious goods that symbolized wealth and refinement. In the late 18th century, amid the opulent Louis XVI style, such services were commissioned for aristocratic banquets, blending intricate floral motifs like these roses with technical virtuosity in firing and overglaze enameling. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Department (bequest of Emma T. Gary, 1934), this plate offers a glimpse into pre-Revolutionary France's gilded age, where porcelain rivaled silver in status. Its survival as part of a complete service underscores Sèvres' enduring legacy in ceramic innovation.

About the Artist

Sèvres Manufactory|Jacques-François-Louis de Laroche|Guillaume Noël · 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...