Sèvres Cup ~1775 - A Roman Woman In Grisaille, "julie" With Painted Decoration In Faux Marble.

Sèvres, late 18th century – Bust of a Roman woman in the antique style, painted in grisaille. Ornamented with faux pink and griotte marble.

Litron cup and saucer in very fine, white hard-paste porcelain, hand-decorated by a specialist porcelain painter.
The bust of a Roman woman in the antique style, rendered in grisaille, is set within a lozenge imitating griotte marble, itself enclosed in a circle imitating pink marble.
A garland of yellow roses and green leaves frames the whole, while a gilt cartouche bears the name “Julie,” adding a touch of exclusivity and refinement. The saucer features a laurel wreath border, and the rim is entirely painted to imitate red marble. The center is enhanced with gilt rays.
The edges of the pieces are highlighted with fine gold.

The fact that the cup is personalized with “Julie” in gold lettering and an antique-style bust is very much in keeping with what Sèvres was doing at the end of the 18th century. Private commissions: Sèvres produced many pieces on commission for individuals, often with names, portraits, or coats of arms. These pieces did not necessarily bear the factory mark, especially if they were for a private collection or a “special order.” Antique-style busts, often inspired by engravings or medals, were typical of the 1770s and 1780s. The use of gold for a name within a cartouche is exactly the Sèvres style for personalized pieces. 

Dimensions :
Height of the cup : 6,4 cm
Diameter of the saucer : 12,8 cm

Condition:
Very good overall condition, with a few small, localized areas of wear to the gilding and two tiny areas of wear (1 to 2 mm) on the faux-marble decoration of the saucer. These minor details do not detract from the beauty or rarity of the set.

This set is representative of late 18th-century Sèvres porcelain, in the Louis XVI style, neoclassical and personalized; a rare example of a service intended for high society of the period.