Sevres, Manufacture Imperiale

Sugar bowls

Porcelain (hard-paste)

24 x 32cm

1808 and 1809

Two Sèvres 'Sucrier aigle et plateau' or 'Eagle sugar bowls with under plate', one dated 1808 the other 1809. With heavy gilding and leaf and berry banded design.

These sugar bowls come from a 'grand dessert service' that consisted of 166 pieces that was given by Napoleon to Frederick I, King of Wurttemberg, 29 December 1809. The sale was entered into the Sevres record books with the description Marly fond d'or avec lauriers peints en gris, têtes imitant le camée, etc. (Registre Vu 1, folio 86v°, n°246.39)  'Marly gold background with laurels painted in grey, heads imitating cameos'

By tradition it is said that the design of these sugar bowl symbolizes the Emperor in the guise of an eagle protecting 'l'Aiglon' as a chick, as it is emerges from its shell.