Exceptional Acquisition of Two Rare Plates from Madame Victoire’s Service by the Château de Versailles

Mise à jour 21 juin 2024 par Redak

Versailles, June 19, 2024 – The Palace of Versailles is enriched with two rare plates from a service ordered by Madame Victoire, daughter of Louis XV, at the Royal Porcelain Manufacture of Sèvres in 1785. These exceptional pieces, acquired by the Society of Friends of Versailles during a public sale on June 14, 2024, contribute to the effort to refurnish the castle as it was in 1789. A generous donation from Mr. Édouard de Royère made this acquisition possible.

A Historic and Rare Service

Madame Victoire’s service, known as “Garden Service”, is remarkable for its rarity and its history. Apart from the two recently acquired plates, only one other piece from this service is kept at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. This service, decorated with small bouquets of flowers, reflects the taste of the princesses of the royal family for elegant table services.

The particularities of the Garden Service

The “Garden Service” is distinguished by its floral motifs with a country taste. The plates feature a bouquet of roses in the center, framed by a blue medallion with gold decorations. The edge of the plate is decorated with a scalloped blue band dotted with wild flowers such as cornflowers (called cornflowers in the 18th century), forget-me-nots and other small flowers. The finish is highlighted with foliage painted in blue and gold between two golden threads.

Initially composed of 81 pieces, the service included forty-eight plates, compote bowls, ice cream cups and several buckets. This service, intended for desserts, was used during private dinners and suppers.

Madame Victoire: A Passion for Sèvres Porcelain

Madame Victoire, fifth daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska, was born in Versailles in 1733. She remained single and was very close to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. After leaving France during the Revolution, she died in Trieste in 1799. Like her father, she had a passion for the productions of the Manufacture de Sèvres and owned several departments before acquiring the “Garden Service” in 1785.

The Preserved Preparatory Drawing

Exceptionally, the preparatory drawing of these plates is preserved in the register of 18th century plate models of the Sèvres factory. This documentation adds considerable historical value to these pieces and enriches our understanding of the production and craftsmanship of the period.

The Society of Friends of Versailles

Founded in 1907, the Society of Friends of Versailles has been an association recognized as being of public utility since 1913. It has more than 5,000 members and benefits from the support of numerous patrons. For more than a hundred years, she has been passionately involved in the restoration, beautification and influence of the palace and estate of Versailles.

The Acquisition Policy of the Palace of Versailles

As a national museum, the Palace of Versailles works to enrich public collections through acquisitions of cultural property. Thanks to purchases, donations and bequests, the museum can complete and enlighten its existing collection. This policy also aims to refurnish the castle, striving to find Versailles furniture identified by research carried out by the conservation.

Cyril CH

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