Tournai Sauce Boat, Decorated With Buffon Birds, 18th Century

Tournai Sauce Boat, Buffon Bird Decoration, 18th Century (1770-1780). This is a very beautiful and rare sauce boat made of Tournai porcelain. Antique Tournai porcelain comes from the city of Tournai (Belgium) and was produced mainly in the 18th century, particularly between 1751 and 1799. Its characteristics: It is a soft-paste porcelain, delicate and refined. It shows a strong influence of French styles (such as Sèvres). It is renowned for its blue and white decorations, floral motifs, and, later, polychrome decorations. It often bears the mark of crossed swords (sometimes embellished with dots or variations). Tournai porcelain was highly prized throughout Europe and is sought after by collectors today, especially plates, cups, figurines, and tea sets in good condition.