A SEVRES PORCELAIN TURQUOISE GROUND ORNITHOLOGICAL PLATE FROM A SERVICE FOR THE COMPTE D'ARTOIS (ASSIETTE UNIE)

Description:

Sèvres, circa 1780
D. 24 cm
Painted with vingettes of birds on landscape bases and medaillons with butterflies, rich gold pattern on rim. The back inscribed in French with the names of the four depicted birds. Blue interlaced LL-marks with "bb" (for 1779) and painter's marks "N" and "LG". Minor wear.
German Private Collection.
The compte d'Artois, brother of Louis XVI and later Charles X, acquired the porcelain service "fond vert oiseaux et papillons d'après M de Bouffon" in 1782 as a diplomatic gift during his visit to Spain. The service was painted after drawings by George-Louis Leclerc, compte de Buffon. Probably given to a member of the Spanish Royal family, a large part of the so-called Spanish gift service was sold at Christie's London, 10. April 1922 and in 1935 at Galerie Jean Charpentier, Paris.