A Sèvres jardiniere (cuvette à fleurs Verdun) dated 1767

painted by Méreaud with a band of scrolling flowers against a gilt seeded ground, hung with laurel and flower swags, moulded glt-edged foliate handles

Sold Christie's London, 28th October 1963, lot 131;
with Winfried Williams, Eastbourne;
Private Collection, New England, sold Christie's New York, 5th May 1999, lot 66

Minor rubbing to gilding, mainly on moulded edges, otherwise in very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This decoration is found on several Sèvres pieces, dated between 1766 and 1769, mostly signed by Méreaud Jeaune. This includes a 1766 écuelle et plateau in the Wallace Collection (Rosalind Savill, Catalogue of Sèvres porcelain, Vol. II, C430-1, pp.656-57), another écuelle in the Chappey collection (Fréderic Masson, "La Porcelaine de Sèvres, collection Chappey", Les Arts, 1905), a 1767 déjeuner lozange at the Hillwood Museum from the collection of Mrs Marjorie Merriweather Post (Liana Parredes Arend, Sèvres porcelain at Hillwood, 1998 pp. 72-73, another one dated 1768 is in the Musée du Louvre, a 1767 gobelet enfoncé in the Hermitage Museum (Nina Birioukova, Natalia Kazakevitch, La porcelaine de Sèvres du XVIIIème siècle 2005, no. 1225, p.351) or a pot à l'eau et jatte at Clandon Park, Surrey (Cushion, Continental porcelain, 1982, p. 63, plate 50). A plate dated 1766 is in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle and could be part of a dessert service bought on december 1766 by the marquis de Durfort, French Ambassador to Austria at the time. Six months later, he bought a single assiette à palmes described as frize colorée. It is likely a replacement for a plate of the 1766 service (David Peters, Sèvres Plates and Services of the 18th Century, 2005, Vol II, no. 66-5, pp. 371-72). The piecework list for 1767 includes in the entry of work against Méreaud Jeune a number of pieces described as service Durfort sablé d'or which might refer to the gold-dotted ground (Archives MNS. F9, 1767)