Exquisite collection traces history of porcelain. Renowned Paris museum.

The tumultuous years of the French Revolution left France’s prestigious decorative arts industries poised on the brink of ruin. It was not until after the fall of the monarchy and the ascendancy of the Consulat and Empire under Napoleon that they began to recover so that by the middle of the nineteenth century they stood at the pinnacle of their achievement. This book is the first in depth study of the renowned porcelain works at Sèvres during its virtual rebirth under the 47 year direction of the scientist, teacher, and administrator Alexandre Brongniart. Some 110 working drawings from the Sèvres Archive are reproduced here for the first time in color. They celebrate the high skill of the artists whose work often documented contemporary events in France. There are table services in the 'Egyptian' and 'Etruscan' taste as well as individual pieces that recall Napoleonic military campaigns. There are also exquisite Neoclassical decorations using motifs such as birds, butterflies, and insects that reflect the century’s early fascination with the natural sciences. The repertoire of nineteenth century eclecticism is evident in the output of Sèvres from the revival of Gothic and renaissance motifs to the outburst of naturalism. Eleven essays by leading authorities assess this dynamic period.

This volume documents the Getty Museum's important holdings of Vincennes and Sèvres porcelain. Entries are arranged in chronological order and include descriptions, commentary, and a complete bibliography and exhibition list. Every object is illustrated in color and all incised and painted marks are reproduced. The volume also includes an index of painters, gilders, and previous owners.

Book III in Jim & Susan Harran's series is all-new, with no repeats from their first two books. Over 1,000 color photographs are included this time, and the book concentrates on cups and saucers that are readily available to collectors. An expanded section on cabinet cups and saucers is provided, and some of the categories from books I and II are again covered: late nineteenth and twentieth century European and American dinnerware, English bone china and earthenware cups and saucers, miniatures, and mustache cups. There are also two brand new categories in the book, Japanese cups and saucers and art glass cups and saucers made by the leading glass factories in Europe and the United States. A marks section, helpful appendix, and bibliography are once again included, as well as useful tips for dealers and collectors. 2007 values.

This book provides a guide to the history of SSvres porcelain as epitomised by seventy of the most important examples in the Royal Collection.