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Source Description

This single-handled, cylindrical cup and deep saucer is an example of jeweled ware that Sèvres began to produce around 1773. Referred to as “emaillée” (enameled) or as “en emaux” (in enamel), these porcelain wares were “show sets” rather than useful wares. Both the cup and saucer are ornamented with faux pearls and are ringed with a repeating pattern of gilt-framed green and red opaque enamel dots resembling small emeralds and rubies. Porcelain sets decorated like this one were widely collected and displayed by European royalty and aristocrats. “Litron” cups would typically be used to consume hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate; owning and displaying a litron cup without an intended use was a material display of power and wealth. The word “litron” refers to a wooden cup (9.4 cm high and 10.3 cm in diameter) used in the 17th century as the standard measure of grain, flour, salt, and peas. While this particular gobelet ‘litron’ does not conform to these proportions, its cylindrical shape recalls the old wooden vessel.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
4951
label
Cup and Saucer (gobelet ‘litron’ et soucoupe)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4951
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Cup and Saucer (gobelet ‘litron’ et soucoupe)
description
This single-handled, cylindrical cup and deep saucer is an example of jeweled ware that Sèvres began to produce around 1773. Referred to as “emaillée” (enameled) or as “en emaux” (in enamel), these porcelain wares were “show sets” rather than useful wares. Both the cup and saucer are ornamented with faux pearls and are ringed with a repeating pattern of gilt-framed green and red opaque enamel dots resembling small emeralds and rubies. Porcelain sets decorated like this one were widely collected and displayed by European royalty and aristocrats. “Litron” cups would typically be used to consume hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate; owning and displaying a litron cup without an intended use was a material display of power and wealth. The word “litron” refers to a wooden cup (9.4 cm high and 10.3 cm in diameter) used in the 17th century as the standard measure of grain, flour, salt, and peas. While this particular gobelet ‘litron’ does not conform to these proportions, its cylindrical shape recalls the old wooden vessel.
date
1780-1800
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
cups (drinking vessels)
saucers
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
6
height
7.6
depth
5.8
dimensionsRaw
Cup (A) H: 2 3/8 × W with handles: 3 × D: 2 5/16 in. (6 × 7.6 × 5.8 cm); Saucer (B) H: 1 1/8 × Diam: 4 3/16 in. (2.8 × 10.7 cm); Overall Cup & Saucer (A & B) H: 2 7/16 × Diam: 4 3/16 in. (6.2 × 10.7 cm).
Source extras
inscriptions
[Factory Mark] Intertwined gold Lls on bottom of cup; [Artist Mark] Gold “#” for Michel-Barnabé Chauveaux aîné on bottom of cup; [Factory Mark] Intertwined gold Lls on bottom of saucer; [Artist Mark] Gold “#” for Michel-Barnabé Chauveaux aîné on bottom of saucer; [Sticker] Torn brown with red boarders and “117” written in pencil affixed to bottom of saucer.
med
soft paste porcelain and enamel
creator_ids
1916
3762
collection_ids
none
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
cdf344b5e61a938c