French Tête-à-tête Tea Set, Sèvres Style With Portraits, Belle époque, C. 1880–1890

A fine French porcelain tête-à-tête tea set in the Sèvres style, produced in Paris during the Belle Époque, circa 1880–1890. Comprising five pieces: teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl, and two cups. Each element is glazed in bleu céleste and richly decorated with hand-painted floral motifs and parcel-gilt scrollwork framing shaped reserves with portraits of 18th-century ladies in court attire — possibly including Marie Antoinette.                                                                                                 The portraiture is of outstanding quality, executed with exceptional precision and tonal refinement. All pieces bear an underglaze pseudo-Sèvres mark. There is a possibility the set was produced by the Samson manufactory, known for its high-quality revivals of royal French porcelain. Dimensions: Teapot: height 17 cm, width 16 cm, depth 12 cm Milk jug: height 10 cm, width 11 cm, depth 7.5 cm Sugar bowl: height 9 cm, width 14 cm, depth 10 cm Cups: height 6.5 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 7 cm Condition: Excellent antique condition. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Very minimal wear to gilding and paint. Enamel in superb condition. Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance