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

Art Historical Context

This elegant plate, titled *Assiette à palmes and one of 102 pieces in a grand service, hails from the renowned Svres Manufactory in, created in 1780. just 1 inch high and nearly 10 inches in diameter, it's crafted from soft-paste porcelain prized French innovation that allowed for delicate translucency and intricate molding before the widespread adoption of harder Chinese-style paste. Produced at the royal factory near Versailles, such services were symbols of opulence, adorning the tables of aristocracy during the late Louis XVI era. The plate's decoration bursts with vibrant motifs of fruits and flowers, hand-painted in vivid enamels and gilding, capturing the neoclassical taste for natural abundance and refined elegance. Sèvres porcelain masters excelled in these overglaze techniques, firing pieces multiple times to achieve jewel-like colors that withstanded the rigors of dining. As part of a massive service, it evokes lavish banquets where display rivaled cuisine. Today, this treasure from the Bequest of Emma T. Gary resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, offering a glimpse into 18th-century French luxury and craftsmanship that influenced porcelain production across Europe.

About the Artist

Sèvres Manufactory · 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...