8o 
FLERAMIC STUDIO 
View of Paris from the hills of Sevres, showing the National Manufactory. 
GRAND FEU CERAMICS 
m. THE MANUFACTORY OF SEVRES— ITS ORGANIZATION 
Taxile Doat 
HE Manufactory of Sevres has for 
more than a century shone with a 
matchless brilliancy. No factory 
equals its renown, no productions 
have exceeded the sum of its artistic 
wares. The glory of its name can only 
be compared to that of the most illus- 
trious ceramic agglomerations of the 
world, whether called Athenian 
Potterj^ Etruscan Ceramics, Hispano- 
Moresques, Italian Faiences, King-te-tchin, Hizen, Oiron, 
Rouen, Meissen or Delft. ..'And, although most of these names 
sum up the efforts of numberless factories, grouped in one local- 
ity, none of these groups has achieved the splendor of the 
isolated Sevres. 
This splendor is due to its powerful organization, from 
artistic, scientific and financial standpoints. 
Since its creation under Louis XV in 1753, Sevres has re- 
ceived annually royal or national subsidies, which have in- 
creased in proportion to its development, its productions, and 
also to the vanity or generosity of monarchs. Originally, 
under Louis XV, its subsidy was 96,000 livres. It was in- 
creased to 100,000 livres under Louis XVI. The Revolution had 
to adjust its protection to the disturbed finances of the time, 
but under Napoleon I, Sevres received from the civil list 264,000 
francs; under Louis Phillipe 300,000 francs, and Napoleon III 
gave it 350,000 francs from his privy purse, besides the variable 
subsidies made necessary by Expositions or by extraordinary 
undertakings. 
After the terrible year 1870-71, the Manufactory^ became 
part of the Public Services, and received from the National 
Budget an annual subsidy of 500,000 francs, raised to 624,000 
francs in 1880 and 652,000 francs in 1903. 
This allowance is gradually paid ovit by the Minister of 
Finances, according to needs. It covers the expenses of the 
three departments, administrative, artistic, technical, at the 
head of which are, since 1891, an administrator and two direct- 
ors (artistic and technical) , thus forming a triumvirate of direc- 
tion. Before that time there was onh^ one head, one adminis- 
trator-director. 
The general personnel consists of 175 people, but the number 
of collaborators is unlimited, every Frenchman having the right 
to submit designs and models which may be accepted by the 
triumvirate. 
The administrative department is composed of the ad- 
ministrator, the two directors, the museum, the library, clerks 
and guards. Salaries vary from 1,200 to 12,000 francs. Be- 
sides their fixed salaries the members of this department have 
free lodgings, heat and light, and a pension when 60 years of 
age and after 30 years of service. Extra pay is also given to 
high members of the staff and the guards receive free clothing. 
All these advantages stimulate the devotion to the common 
work. The department is vxnder the direct orders of the Ad- 
ministrator, who is named by Presidential decree. 
The artistic department is managed bj^ the Director of the 
Old manufactory of Sevres, tuilt under Louis XVI, now High School for girls. 
New manufactory of Sevres, built under Napoleon III, inaugurated in 1875. 
