29-piece Empire Style Porcelain Coffee Service (1815-1820)

This refined Empire-style Brussels service includes 12 cups with matching trembleuses, a milk jug, a coffee pot, a hot water jug, a sugar bowl with a lid, and a rinsing bowl. In the early 19th century, owning a coffee service was a symbol of class, culture, and sophistication. However, preparing coffee was time-consuming: ground and roasted coffee beans had to be dissolved in boiling water. After a few minutes, the coffee grounds fell to the bottom of the pot, and the coffee was ready to be served. However, with this technique, it was inevitable that some mud would end up in the cup. After drinking, the cup was rinsed in a special basin. The trembleuse is actually a raised trivet that was introduced to prevent spillage. The story goes that it was Madame de Pompadour who commissioned the first trembleuse around 1759 to avoid spilling coffee when entertaining guests. Brussels was once one of the largest porcelain centers in Europe. The first Brussels porcelain was created in Tervuren when Charles of Lorraine had several laboratories installed near his residence around 1765. In 1786, a second factory was established in Schaerbeek, but it had to close a few years later following escalating financial disputes between its shareholders. After French domination, only the Louis-Pierre Alexandre Cretté factory survived. Given the French, and more precisely Parisian, origin of the staff, production was closely linked to Parisian products, so it was always clear to distinguish French porcelain from its Brussels counterpart. This service is a typical example. Although the design is clearly based on the principles of the Empire, the grace of the cups already betrays an early influence of the Restoration initiated under King Louis XVIII of France.Condition: The service is in good condition, with slight wear to the gilt details. One of the cups has a small crack.