Dubarry Cup and Saucer 
Royal Cup with Crested Saucer 
Two Fine Specimens of Old Sevres 
By ENID LOCKE 
T HE Royal Manufactory of Sevres has been 
called “the extravagant plaything of kings.” 
But it was more than that for its place in 
the history of art is a very high one. It was started 
in a riding school at Vincennes in 1740 by two 
runaway rogues under the patronage of a gen¬ 
erous marquis who loved the beautiful and was 
jealous for France of the success achieved at Meis¬ 
sen. 
He interested the King and the factory was put in 
proper hands. Only after nine years of experiments, 
however, was a piece turned out that was thought 
worthy to be presented to the unhappy wife of Louis 
XV., Oueen Marie Leczinska. All trace of this 
vase has been lost but it has been described in 
some contemporaneous memoirs as being a white 
vase three feet high, surrounded by figures and 
having in it a bouquet of four hundred and eighty 
tinted porcelain flowers. 
Such an impression did this remarkable work 
produce on the young Dauphine that she ordered a 
similar one to send to her father, the King of Poland, 
to show him that her husband’s country had created 
something as beautiful as had ever been turned out of 
Germany’s pride,—Meissen. 
From this point in its history the artistic success of 
the factory was assured and immeasurably did it 
advance. With the advent of Boileau as director the 
financial condition improved also. During his 
twenty years of skilled management painters of note, 
sculptors to design shapes for the vases, distinguished 
chemists, were all employed to get perfect results, 
while the secrets of the factory were carefully 
guarded from its rivals. 
Boileau died leaving about 500,000 livres in the 
coffers; his successor unfortunately squandered this 
sum and was put in prison for his mismanagement. 
The factory was once more put under safe director¬ 
ship and it thrived so that it needed larger quarters. 
It was then installed at Sevres, as being conveniently 
located between the residence of the King, Versailles, 
and Paris. 
During the many changes of government, the 
factory was regarded as a glory to France and was 
always financed and protected. The ability and 
honesty of Brongniait for forty-seven years held the 
confidence of the successive powers in France and 
did wonders to keep its work undisturbed. We are 
indebted to him for the invaluable Musee de Sevres, 
founded 1823. 
Every household has in it some piece from this 
historic factory, either modern or old, so that this 
short sketch may not be amiss. 
Below are described two examples of old Sevres 
which have been brought to America. 
Like a pale blue scarabee found in an Egyptian 
tomb seems this tiny royal cup with its crested saucer. 
It belongs to a collector in New York who values it 
highly because of its intrinsic beauty and because it 
belonged to the service of Louis XV., having the 
crown and royal initials in gold on the saucer. It 
came from the Sevres factory when it was under the 
management of Boileau. It is of the softest blue and 
the porcelain is very thin. There are three medallions 
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