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In 1738, almost 30 years after first European porcelain was produced in Meissen, the successful attempt to create soft paste porcelain was undertaken in French Vincennes. This year Marquis Orry de Fulvy obtained from the king Louis XV a licence to manufacture porcelain. The factory from the very beginning operated as the "Manufacture royale". In 1751 Marquis Orry de Fulvy died and the king obtained 25 percent of the factory. Early French porcelain imitated Meissen pieces.

In 1756 the factory was moved to the village of Sèvres and gained its own unique style. In 1759 Louis XV took over the entire Sèvres porcelain factory. Until 1780 the factory was granted a monopoly of multicolor painting of porcelain.

In 1772 the production of hard paste porcelain started. The company was in serious troubles after the French Revolution (1789). The porcelain made in Sèvres was meant for aristocracy and royal families. Unfortunately for the manufacture, the revolution ended the monarchy in France. Finally in 1798 the company was overtaken by the French government. The government appointed Alexander Brongniart to run a business. Under his administration the company managed to cater to a new group of wealthy clients.

The company continued to thrive through the Napoleonic era and in the rest of 19th century.

The porcelain made in Sèvres is most often marked with two blue-painted interlaced letters 'Ls'. The manufacture nationale de Sèvres is still one of the principal European porcelain manufactories.

Dating 18th century Sèvres porcelain

Letters Year Example
A 1754  
B 1755  
C 1756  
D 1757  
E 1758  
F 1759  
G 1760  
 H  1761  
I, J 1762  
 K  1763  
 L  1764  
 M  1765  
 N  1766  
 O  1767  
P  1768  
 Q  1769  
 R  1770  
 S  1771  
 T  1772  
 U  1773  
 V  1774  
 X  1775  
 Y  1776  
 Z  1777  
 AA  1778  
 BB  1779  
 CC  1780  
 DD  1781  
 EE  1782  
 FF  1783  
 GG  1784  
 HH  1785  
 II, JJ  1786  
 KK  1787  
 LL  1788  
 MM  1789  
NN 1790  
OO 1791  
PP 1792  
QQ 1793  
Red Sevres mark
The red enamel mark Manufacture Nationale Dore a Sevres. AP is a date 1982
Napoleon Sevres mark
Dore a Sevres gilding mark, N stands for Napoleon, 57 is a date - 1857 
Dore a Sevres mark
Dore a Sevres, a mark of gilding, 91 stands for date 1891
RF mark
Manufacture Nationale RF Dore a Sevres 1904 gilding mark
Green triangle mark
Pâte ancienne porcelain mass made in 1900
S48 mark
S.48. Sevres mark used in 1848 on whiteware
SV 47 mark
SV. 47. Sevres mark used in 1847 on whiteware
RF 1917 mark
Manufacture Nationale Dore a Sevres 1917 gilding mark
DA mark
S 1913 DA pâte ancienne porcelain mass made in 1913
S37 mark
S.37. Sevres whiteware 1837 mark
1844 Sevres mark
1844 blue Sevres decoration mark
Tuileries mark
Chateau des Tuileries 19th century Sevres palace mark
1973 mark
1973 Sevres mark
AG mark
The red enamel mark Manufacture Nationale Dore a Sevres. AG is a date 1973
N 56 mark
Dore a Sevres gilding mark, 56 is a date - 1856
S56 mark
S.56. Sevres mark used in 1856
Dore mark
Dore a Sevres N 60 gilding mark used in 1860
S59 mark
S.59. Sevres whiteware mark
1903 mark
Manufacture Nationale RF Dore a Sevres 1903 gilding mark
S94 mark
S.94 Sevres hard-paste porcelain 1894 mark
 
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