Gabriel Fourmaintraux. Breakfast Set. Desevres, ca. 1900. $750.00

Breakfast Set.

Blue and white are all the rage in design right now from Martha Stewart to Pinturesque to MixCentury.
A strikingly simple design based on cherries adorns the pieces of this pattern which include a large tray, egg cups and salt shaker, and pots de crème. The depiction of the full sets in black and white with larger detailed views of the individual pieces makes this an especially appealing sheet.

For almost 300 years, since it was produced under the patronage of Louis XV, Sevres porcelain has been highly regarded for its high quality and beautiful design. These watercolors and hand water colored pouchoir prints are original designs created by the Sevres artist Gabriel Fourmaintraux to serve as guides for the painters of the porcelain and as sales tools for prospective clients showing them the range of sizes, decorative motifs, and finishing available at varying prices. The inclusion of pencil notations of prices, sizes and finishing options and stamps indicating order numbers are evidence of the fascinating role of the works as working designs. Our collection includes depictions of breakfast, dinner and dessert serving pieces, boxes, trays, lamps, table and toiletry accessories, vases, etc. Each is a beautiful and unique historical record of French decorative art.

A museum (A la belle Epoque de la Faience de Desevres) has been established in what were Gabriel Fourmaintraux’s workshops. It is located just outside of Paris at 114 rue Jean Jaures in Desevres.

12 ½ x 19 inches, sheet.
Pouchoir with hand coloring.
Nice condition save minor discoloration on left far edge of sheet and crease on right.