Cup From The Manufacture Royale De Sèvres, Chinese Décor And Chinée Fabric - 18th Century

Porcelain litron cup, Chinese décor and chinese fabric
Manufacture Royale de Sèvres, painter Louis Antoine Legrand, circa 1780

Charming 2nd size Sèvres hard porcelain litron cup with rich painted decoration. In a central cartouche, a miniature scene of three Chinese and birds in a lacustrine setting with a pagoda in the background. The scene is framed by gilded foliage and supported by two Chinese in pink and gold garb and conical hats. The bottom of the cup is decorated with alternating green-brown and gold bands and a mottled textile effect.


The entire decoration of this cup is based on the chinoiserie style in vogue throughout the 18th century.
The painter Legrand, who created it, produced several sets in this theme at Sèvres. The originality of this cup lies not only in the two large chinoiseries that emerge from the decor to frame it, but also in the marriage with the textile effect usually found in decor alone on porcelain.

This type of fabric, known in France as "chiné à la branche" or Ikat, is a yarn-dyeing technique that forms the characteristic pattern of blurred motifs during weaving. Originating in Asia, then adopted and mastered in Lyon silks in the mid-18th century, this motif was then adapted for painting in the Sèvres workshops. The result is highly original, almost abstract and almost impossible to read at first glance. For examples of similar decorations, see the photos of a teapot sold at Bonham's (December 9, 2021, London), and a plate conserved at the Musée du Louvre (TH 1171 - © 2023 Musée du Louvre, Dist. GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Yves Lacôte).This cup therefore has the rare distinction of bringing together decoration with Chinese characters and Chinese fabric.

Sèvres mark in crowned blue, undated but probably circa 1780, and "LG" mark for the painter and gilder Louis Antoine Legrand, active between 1776 and 1824.

Height: 6 cm.

Very good condition, minor wear to gilding.