Cup and Saucer (gobelet ‘litron’ et soucoupe)

Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory (French, active 1756 - present) (Manufacturer)

Vincent Taillandier (French, 1736 - 1790) (Artist)

French (Artist)

1777

soft paste porcelain

This single-handled, cylindrical cup would have been used to consume tea; however, coffee and hot chocolate were also served in cups like this one. The word “litron” refers to a wooden cup (9.4 cm high and 10.3 cm in diameter) used in the 17th century as the standard measure of grain, flour, salt, and peas. While this particular gobelet ‘litron’ does not conform to these proportions, its cylindrical shape recalls the old wooden vessel. Both the cup and saucer are covered in a repeating pattern of small red and blue dots surrounding colorful garlands of flowers. A heavy line of gilt work encircles the rim of both porcelain pieces and outlines the cup’s ear-shaped handle, giving the set a jewel-like appearance that would have glistened in the candlelit interiors of the 18th century.

Inscription

[Factory Mark] Red, intertwined Lls on bottom of cup; [Date] Red “Z” for 1777 on bottom of cup; [Artist Mark] Red, abstract fleur-de-lis for Vincent Taillandier on bottom of cup; [Unknown Mark] Blue “a” on bottom of cup; [Sticker] Small rectangular with “32” printed in ink affixed to bottom of cup; [Sticker] Small rectangular with scalloped edges, obscured underneath other sticker on bottom of cup; [Factory Mark] Red, intertwined Lls on bottom of saucer; [Date] Red “Z” for 1777 on bottom of saucer; [Artist Mark] Red, abstract fleur-de-lis for Vincent Taillandier on bottom of saucer; [Sticker] Torn brown with red boarder and “124” written in pencil affixed to bottom of saucer; [Sticker] Two attached, resembling postage stamps with illegible, faded writing affixed to bottom of saucer; [Sticker] Small rectangular with “32” printed in ink affixed to bottom of saucer; [Sticker] Small rectangular with scalloped edges, obscured underneath the “32” sticker affixed to bottom of saucer.

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Geographies

France, Sèvres (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Cup (A) H: 2 5/16 × W with Handle: 2 15/16 × D: 2 1/8 in. (5.9 × 7.4 × 5.4 cm); Saucer (B) H: 1 3/16 × Diam: 4 13/16 in. (3 × 12.3 cm); Overall Cup & Saucer (A & B) H: 2 3/8 × Diam: 4 13/16 in. (6 × 12.3 cm).

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

48.683

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Cup and Saucer (gobelet ‘litron’ et soucoupe)

Inscription

Geographies

Measurements

Location in Museum

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

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Cup and Saucer (gobelet ‘litron’ et soucoupe)

Inscription

Geographies

Measurements

Location in Museum

Accession Number In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

Do you have additional information?

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.