A Francisque Rousseau figure of a Sultan and concubine, France, mid-19th century

The inscription in red ink at the base reads 'Exp. 1844 / Breveté / Fournisseur du Roi F.R.' The initials F.R. refer to the French porcelain painter Edmé-Alexandre-Francisque Rousseau, active in Paris between 1837 and 1853. According to the Bulletin des lois de la République Française (Vol.29, Paris, 1845) Francisque Rousseau registered a patent for the invention of a new gilding process on porcelain in 1844. Thanks to this invention Rousseau was awarded the great gold medal by the Sociéte d’Encouragment pour l’Industrie Nationale and in the 1847 General Yearbook of Trade, Industry, Judiciary and Administration the entry to his name reads “author of the gilding process, on any coloured background by half-great fire of kiln of which the large application, the perfect and constant success earned him (several awards)…”.

Gaultier de Claubry praises the “improvements he brought to porcelain decoration”. He describes the process through which Rousseau achieved the application of relief on coloured backgrounds, without altering their gloss, in order to receive a dense gilding. The unprecedented solidity of these ornaments seems to have opened new decorative possibilities for a wider range of objects. Francisque Rousseau’s “inalterable gilding” will, according to Mr Claubry, “satisfy all of art’s exigences and whims of fashion”. The popularity of his products and their low prices brought him increasing attention, which culminated in his nomination as Supplier of the King (Fournisseur du Roi) Louis-Phillipe in 1847.