Royal Sèvres Litron Soft-paste Teapot, Louis XV Period, 1772

An exceptionally rare French soft-paste porcelain teapot produced by the Royal Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory in 1772 during the reign of Louis XV. The underside bears the factory's underglaze blue interlaced L's enclosing the date letter together with the painter's mark jh, attributable to Jean-François Henrion l'aîné, who worked at Sèvres from 1770 to 1781 and again from 1783 to 1784. Renowned for his naturalistic bouquets, flower garlands and ornamental borders, Henrion's documented artistic speciality corresponds closely with the decoration of the present teapot.

The elegant Litron form, with its cylindrical body, gracefully curved spout, high loop handle and original domed cover, was created for the refined tea services of the French court and remains one of the defining designs of the Royal Sèvres Manufactory. The rich deep cobalt-blue ground is enriched with finely tooled gilt pointillé, trellis ornament heightened with iron-red dots, rococo cartouches and exquisitely painted flower garlands. Their remarkable naturalism, subtle tonal modelling and confident brushwork perfectly reflect the refined artistry for which Henrion became renowned.

Such Sèvres teapots are extremely rare, and their value is correspondingly high. Sèvres porcelain is an investment for those who wish not only to preserve their wealth but also to increase it. The value of Sèvres porcelain continues to rise year after year.

By the third quarter of the 18th century, most porcelain produced in Europe was still rather primitive and heavy in design, with even its finest examples merely reproducing Chinese models. Only a few manufactories, and undoubtedly Sèvres among them, were already producing works that still inspire admiration today for their elegance and the perfection of their forms.

Dimensions:

• Height: 11.5 cm. Length from spout to handle: 15 cm. Body diameter: 7.5 cm. Weight: 264 g

Condition:

Excellent antique condition. Tiny nibble to the edge of the spout and minor rubbing to the gilding around the rim. There is a fine internal hairline crack extending downward from the base of the spout, only minimally visible externally. Under ultraviolet examination, the crack does not fluoresce, indicating that it is confined to the enamel layer and has not penetrated the porcelain body. The enamels remain bright and the gilding is well preserved throughout.

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. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.