Note
Notes: During the late 18th century, French porcelain became increasingly fashionable in America. for some, it was the close ties, cultural and political, that develped between America and France during the Revolution. For others, it was simply the new classical shapes with bright, decorative gilding that provided the attraction. The letters of Mary Stead Pinckney(d.1812), written in Paris during her husband's service as the United States ambassador, document the trend. In 1797, she described her visits with the other Charlestonians to the Parisian procelain factories:" Mrs. [Henry] Middleton, Ralph[ Stead Izard], Eliza [Izard], myself, and a genteman to conduct us went yesterday to visit the Angouleme manufactory of china...cups & saucers with beautiful miniature figures rivalling the first masters on ivory. vases from 50 to 1000 louis a pair--an absolute picture....we went to see the whole process, from the lump of clay which they were rolling about as if for a tart, til it took the form of the beautiful ware we had so much admired before... If I remain in France I shall certainly visit the manufactory of Seve,which is generally accounted superior to that of Angouleme."
Mrs. Pinckney hoped to procure a set of fashionable china for her cousin, Margaret Izard Manigault. Sse informed her of recent ceramic purchases of other Americans in Paris, such as Mrs. Edward Rutledge and Mr. Codman of New York: " To the best of my judgment Mrs. E[dward] Rutledge's desert set is Angouleme, & the plates like hers at the manufactory are 6 louis each. Mr. King sent to Mr. Codman , a friend of his from Paris, & acquainted with business, & desired him to send him a table & desert set to cost 250 louis d'ors for the two sets, & to have them both alike, & nothing extraordinary-----a little bunch of purple flowers, & a gilt edge---a beautiful dessert set ( as I wrote Rebecca) only flowers of different colours.
THis dessert service bears the mark of the Comte d' Artois factory. Established in 1769, this factory enjoyed the patronage of Charles Phiilippe, Comte d'Artois, the younger brother of Louis XVI and the future King Charles X of France. ( Charlestonians Abroad, Catalogue p.288)
placed on loan in 1995, but not included with original inventory, unboxed 10/28/2003
Status: OK
Location Details1: 1