Litron Cup And Saucer, "lapis Lazuli" Design, Porcelain From The Locre Manufactory - Paris

The cup and its matching saucer feature a RARE design on a deep blue background, imitating lapis lazuli, enlivened by cloud-like marbling and gold flecks evoking mineral inclusions. The rims are adorned with a compartmentalized polychrome frieze, composed of panels alternating between a pink background and pale green fields, embellished with stylized floral motifs and black scrollwork, the whole framed by gold fillets.

Mark(s): Hand-painted in blue, with double crossed arrows,
Dimensions: Cup: Height 6 cm - Length 8.7 cm - Base. : Diam. 12.4 cm,
Condition(s): PERFECT CONDITION,
Period: DIRECTOIRE / CONSULATE.

The so-called “lapis lazuli background” decor emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, during a period marked by a veritable craze for hard stones, marble, and precious materials, inspired by antiquity, palace interiors, and the great manufactories. Seeking to imitate the appearance of lapis lazuli, it is characterized by a deep blue background enlivened by marbling and small touches of gold evoking natural inclusions. This type of decoration requires great technical skill, involving the careful layering of multiple coats. Time-consuming and costly to produce, it was made only in limited quantities, which explains its relative rarity today.