A+ A A-

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  
1902 mark
Manufacture Nationale RF Dore a Sevres 1902 gilding mark
S98 mark
S.98 Sevres mark used on hard-paste porcelain made in 1898
1948 mark
1948 green Sevres mark
I mark
Manufactura Nationale Dore a Sevres I gilding 1949 mark
S52 mark
S.52. Sevres whiteware 1852 mark
S mark
S Sevres Manufacture Nationale France 1928 - 1940 mark 
S76 mark
S.76. Sevres hard-paste porcelain mark used in 1876
Vincennes mark
Vincennes mark used before 1753
S39  Sevres mark
S39 Sevres mark used in 1839
1840 mark
Blue Sevres 1840 decoration mark
1903 triangle mark
S 1903 triangle mark, Pâte nouvelle porcelain mass, made in 1903
RF mark
RF Dore a Sevres Manufacture Nationale 1907 gilding mark
Decore 29 mark
Decore a Sevres 1829 decoration mark
Eagle mark
1852 Sevres decoration mark
Breteuil mark
Pav: on De Breteuil Sevres 19th century palace mark
Trianon mark
Chateau de Trianon Sevres 19th century palace mark
SV 45 mark
SV. 45. Sevres mark used in 1845 on whiteware
S1902 mark
S 1902 green triangle mark, pâte ancienne porcelain mass, made in 1902
1925 DN mark
S 1925 DN mark, porcelain mass pâte nouvelle, made in 1925
Defective item mark
S 1909 triangle mark with a cut meaning a defective item. This type of marks was used from 1900
 
Powered by Phoca Gallery