Offered by Sylvie Lhermite-King
Works of art, silver, glass and furniture from 16th to 18th century
Sèvres, circa 1761-1762, after models by Etienne-Maurice Falconet
H. Psyché (with base): 30.8 cm;
H. Baigneuse (with base): 42 cm;
H. Amour (with base): 30.6 cm.
Diam. of the bases: 16.2 cm.
Provenance:
Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, marquise de Pompadour (?)
Each figure is standing on a removable soft-paste Sèvres porcelain pedestal with a dark blue background (“bleu lapis”) richly gilt with "goût grec" ornaments. Although unmarked, these pedestals are contemporary to the figures.
This garniture seems to be the only one currently listed resting on identical pedestals. The sales register of the Sèvres factory tells us that Madame de Pompadour acquired one on June 25, 1762, consisting of: “1 Baigneuse Biscuit, 2 Amour et Pendant, 3 Pieds d’Esteaux pour les dits”). Unfortunately, with the lack of details in the description of the bases from this delivery, we can only suggest this possible provenance.