Sevres (1756-present)
Sèvres is one of Europe’s premier porcelain manufacturers, located in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, France. It originated as Vincennes porcelain, established in 1740, before relocating to Sèvres in 1756. Since 1759, the factory has been owned by the French crown or government.
The Manufacture de Vincennes, established in 1740, owed much of its early success to the patronage of Queen Marie Leszczynska, the Polish-born wife of Louis XV and a passionate porcelain collector. According to the Duke de Luynes, Queen Marie played a pivotal role in introducing porcelain to Versailles, commissioning pieces like the first coloured porcelain flowers in 1748 to compete with those from Chantilly and Meissen in Germany. Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s influential mistress, became a major patron in 1751, and by 1756, the manufactory moved to Sèvres, near her château de Bellevue, into a grand building designed by architect Laurent Lindet.
Antique French Sevres Porcelain Box available at Jacksons Antique
The new Sèvres facility, spanning 130 meters and rising four stories, housed all aspects of porcelain production, from clay storage to painting and gilding. Jean-Claude Chambellan Duplessis served as artistic director from 1748 until 1774, a period noted for its exceptional craftsmanship. In 1759, the King officially acquired the manufactory, though Madame de Pompadour maintained significant influence over its operations. Initially focused on soft-paste porcelain, Sèvres began producing hard-paste porcelain after discovering kaolin deposits near Limoges in 1768, enabling it to rival the quality of Meissen porcelain. Despite this shift, the factory continued to make soft-paste porcelain until 1804.
Louis-Simon Boizot, who led the factory from 1774 to 1800, saw the manufactory’s designs reflect the grandeur of the Neoclassical and Napoleonic eras. The Empire style, marked by bold colours, lavish gilding, and military motifs, became dominant. Napoleon appointed Alexandre Brongniart as director in 1800, and under his leadership, Sèvres shifted toward large decorative pieces like vases and tableware, often intended as diplomatic gifts. The mid-19th century saw a revival of Louis XVI styles during the Second Empire (1852–1870), characterized by elaborate painting and gilding, overseen by Henri Victor Regnault, appointed director in 1854. In 1875, the manufactory relocated to a new facility near the Parc de Saint-Cloud, which continues to operate today. Late in the 19th century, Sèvres embraced Japonism, followed by Art Nouveau and Art Deco under artistic director A. Sandier. In 1920, the Treaty of Sèvres, which concluded World War I between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies, was signed at the factory.
French Sevres Château de Fontainebleau Serving Dishes available at Jacksons Antique
A key figure in Sèvres’ history, Ambroise Milet, Director of the Paste Kilns, oversaw the construction of six Anagama kilns in 1877, now classified as French historical monuments. These kilns, known for producing large porcelain pieces, contributed to Sèvres’ reputation for high-quality craftsmanship. Though wood-firing ceased in 2006, electric ovens are now used for contemporary production. In 2010, the manufactory became part of Sèvres – Cité de la Céramique, alongside the Musée National de la céramique, later incorporating the Musée National de la Porcelaine Adrien-Dubouché in Limoges. Today, Sèvres continues to create artisanal porcelain, blending historical reproductions with modern designs, upholding its esteemed legacy in the world of ceramics.