French ‘Sevres’ Porcelain Box

Sevres porcelain (Manufacture nationale de Sèvres) is one of the principal European porcelain factories, located in Sèvres, Hauts-de-Seine, France. Originally Vincennes porcelain which was founded in 1740 it moved to Sèvres in 1756 and has been owned by the French crown or government since 1759. It replaced Meissen porcelain as the standard-setter among European porcelain factories, retaining this position until at least the 19th century.

Chateau des Tuileries, the Tuileries Palace was a royal and imperial palace in Paris which stood on the right bank of the river Seine which is located directly in front of the Louvre. It was the Parisian residence of most French monarchs, from Henry IV to Napoleon III, until it was burned by the Paris Commune in 1871.

Ormolu is the technique of applying finely ground, high-carat gold–mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold coating. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré and in English it is often referred to as gilt bronze. It is a finishing technique which adds an overall gold look to any object without the massive cost and impracticality of making an object out of solid gold. Mercury was outlawed in the 1830’s in France however it was still used until the early 1900s.

Measurements 14cm High x 33cm Wide x 23cm Deep.