TWO SEVRES CUPS AND SAUCERS 1766 and 1783

(gobelets litron et soucoupes) one painted with three continuous bands of flower sprigs, gilt foliate scrolls and trailing roses, the other with shells reserved on a gilt trelliswork and blue ground suspending floral or ribbon garlands, both with interlaced L's in blue; the first with date letter ff and painter's mark for Nicquet in blue, gilder's mark for Jean Chavaux in gold; the second with date letter mark N, painter's mark for Thévenet in blue; both with incised marks. Together with a shell-shaped dish, later decorated with a similar shell and floral pattern, interlaced L's, date letter L for 1764 and painter's mark for Claude-Joseph Cardin in blue, incised letters.

The first, sold, Christie's, New York, November 18, 1999, lot 254
The second, sold, Sotheby's, New York, November 12, 1999, lot 108

The first: the cup has an extremely minor pinhead chip to the rim; the saucer with an approximate 1/4-inch flat chip to the exterior rim and a fine 1-inch hairline crack running down from the side of the rim. The second: The cup with several very minor patches of wear to the gilt dental rim; the saucer with some more siginificant patches of wear to the gilding of the rim. The later-decorated shell-shaped dish has a firing fault running across one of the scroll elements of the handle.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A teacup and saucer decorated in a similar pattern to the present example with shell borders were sold at Ader Tajan in Paris on November 18, 1992, lot 33.