Antique blue Sèvres porcelain centrepiece

Antique blue Sèvres porcelain centrepiece
French, 1876
Height 24cm, diameter 33.5cm
 
Produced by Sèvres, this refined porcelain centrepiece is a superb expression of the factory’s celebrated artistry and technical prowess—attributes that made Sèvres a favourite of the French court and European nobility.
 
Executed in the iconic bleu céleste glaze, the bowl is richly embellished with hand-painted cartouches framed in gilt, alternating between graceful floral compositions and charming bird scenes set within wooded landscapes. Delicate gilded sprays fill the interstices, creating a harmonious decorative rhythm across the surface.
 
The interior is equally elaborate, featuring a finely rendered pastoral scene of a Rococo couple resting in a forest clearing, dressed in vibrant 18th-century attire and surrounded by lush foliage. The scene is framed by a decorative border of fruit and flower garlands, echoing the bowl’s exterior motifs.
 
Resting on a flared socle foot, the base is also finished in bleu céleste with elaborate gilded detailing on a white ground and scalloped borders that unify the overall design. The underside bears the factory mark ‘S.76’ for the year 1876 and the inscription ‘Décoré à Sèvres’. The inner painting is signed ‘Ab: Schilt, Manuf. D. Sèvres, 1878’ in the lower left corner.
 
An exceptional piece of historic French porcelain, this centrepiece represents the enduring sophistication of Sèvres and would make a distinguished addition to any refined interior or specialist collection.
 
Artist/Maker: Sèvres (French, founded 1738)