This large Clignancourt porcelain soup tureen and stand was produced under the royal patronage of Philippe de France, Duke of Orléans, brother of King Louis XVI.
At court, he was known simply as “Monsieur,” and the factory mark ( M ) used during this period reflects that royal association.
Porcelain from the Clignancourt manufactory was intended for aristocratic households and displays the restrained elegance characteristic of late eighteenth-century French porcelain.
The tureen is beautifully hand-painted with delicate cornflower sprigs and garlands.
The blue and red blossoms, known in France as barbeau, appear in scattered sprigs across the body while a continuous garland of cornflowers and foliage encircles the rim of the tureen and the border of the stand.
Cornflower decoration was closely associated with Queen Marie Antoinette.
She admired it for its natural simplicity and freshness.
The tureen is large and elegantly proportioned.
Crisp scroll handles rise from the sides of the tureen, and the domed cover is crowned by a finely modeled finial.
Complete eighteenth-century French porcelain tureens with their original stands are increasingly difficult to find, and this example combines refined decoration with strong decorative presence.
Dimensions: 17″ wide x 13″ deep x 12.5″ high
Condition: Excellent
Decoration: Hand-painted cornflower sprigs and garlands with gilt borders
Material: Soft-paste porcelain
Style: Louis XVI
Origin: Paris, France
Date: Circa 1780