Many of my readers will be visiting Buckingham Palace during the summer opening of the State Rooms August-September. Every time I wander in the Palace during the summer opening, I am amazed at the amount of Royal Sevres there is in the Royal Collection.
At Windsor Castle, the Sevres dinner services, vases, and 18th century plaques placed in exquisite furniture are fabulous. During the quieter months of the year, several of the Drawing Rooms are open where fabulous Sevres vases decorate the mantles.
King George IV had agents all over Europe acquiring French porcelain and furniture from the French Royal Palaces after the French Revolution. The King had a passion for all things French. His collection of Sevres is now in the Royal Collection, held by the Queen in trust for the Nation.
The guides, the ear traps, and the guide books highlight these spectacular pieces of Sevres: wonderful pieces once owned by Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and of course Marie Antoinette.
Be sure you pay close attention to the Sevres in the Royal Collection during your tours of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. You will delight in their beauty.
Wonderful. Exquisite colors and detail. Fabulous quality.
Tom
May I also recommend a visit to The Wallace Collection (Manchester Square, London) where an equally fabulous collection of Sevres porcelain is on display. Examples include Vincennes, early soft paste Sevres and Royal Sevres (hard paste) The recently retired Director of The Wallace, Dame Rosalind Savill, is a renowned expert in the field.
Interestingly the 3rd Marquis of Hertford, one of the founders of The Wallace Collection, bought not only Sevres porcelain for himself but also for the Prince Regent, as the two men were close friends.
Comment by Julia — July 6, 2012 @ 5:27 am