{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O99424"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O99424/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7071/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AG7071/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AG7071","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BB4627","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AF8012","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O99424/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O99424","accessionNumber":"C.383-1909","objectType":"Saucer","titles":[{"title":"Soucoupe","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"The most important French porcelain factory was founded in 1740 in the royal chateau of Vincennes. In 1756 it was transferred to Sèvres, the other side of Paris, and shortly after was bought by Louis XV. The support and protection of the king and his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, enabled it to secure the best artists, sculptors, designers and chemists. Sèvres porcelain soon became the most sought after in Europe. \r\nThe royal manufactory at Sèvres specialised in luxury porcelains, many of which were destined for the French court. Each year it displayed its newest models in the king's apartments at Versailles. The factory was very responsive to changes in fashion and introduced many innovations in design and decoration. Its products were admired throughout Europe and its style was widely imitated. During the French Revolution, which brought about a disastrous drop in sales of luxury porcelain, the factory was nationalised and began producing patriotic wares such as this saucer.\r\nIn the centre of the saucer a triangular stonemason's or carpenter's level representing Equality and Justice is surrounded by radiating light representing Truth and Knowledge. The central border is painted with myosotis flowers (forget-me-nots) and the outer border with orange nasturtiums (capucine). Laurel wreaths representing Victory enclose three symbols: Fasces (a bundle of bound rods, here with a spearhead, not an axe) the symbol of ancient Roman Power and Jurisdiction, a watering can (Arrosoir) for the10th day of the French Republican Calendar period of  Thermidor (19 July – 17 August) and a harvesting basket (Hotte) for the 20th day of Fructidor (18 August – 16  September).\r\nIt is possible that this saucer was commissioned as part of a set to celebrate not only the French Revolutionary ideals, but also dates of significance to the owner.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Saucer, porcelain, straight sides, no indent, painted with Republican emblems in enamels and gilt on a white ground.  Rim hole.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Edme-François Bouillat","id":"A29198"},"association":{"text":"painter","id":"x39168"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Sèvres porcelain factory","id":"A406"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Porcelain, painted in enamels and gilt","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Porcelain","id":"THES48907"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Politics","id":"THES48908"},{"text":"Propaganda","id":"THES48902"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2006AG7071","2006BB4627","2006AF8012"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"1","id":"THES263059"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Saucer","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1793-1800","earliest":"1793-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by J. H. Fitzhenry","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"126","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"01.08.12","earliest":"2012-08-01","latest":"2012-08-01"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"28","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"01.08.12","earliest":"2012-08-01","latest":"2012-08-01"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Sevres R.F.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Maker's mark in blue enamel"},{"content":"'y'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Painter's mark in blue enamel for Edmé-François Bouillat"},{"content":"'G'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"incised"}],"objectHistory":"Joseph Henry Fitzhenry loaned and gave many objects to the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1870 and 1913. In 1910, to mark the opening of the new buildings designed by Aston Webb, he presented his collections of French porcelain and Dutch faience. Several other departments were also beneficiaries of his generosity.\r\n\r\nBorn in 1836, Joseph Henry Fitzhenry was a prodigious art collector and dealer. He was a friend of the art collectors Sir Richard Wallace, George Salting and J. Pierpont Morgan, to the latter of whom he provided advice on purchases. According to his obituarist, 'Nothing is certainly known about Mr. Fitzhenry’s origin or early life'. Fitzhenry was a founding member of the V&A’s Advisory Council, attending only one meeting before he died in London on 15 March 1913, aged 77. He was buried in Brompton cemetery.\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Saucer, porcelain, painted with Republican emblems in enamels, Sèvres porcelain factory, France, 1793-1800","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"\r\n\n\n\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Maze-Sencier, Alphonse,  'Le livre des collectionneurs', Publisher:  Paris : Librairie Renouard, 1885.  \r\nCh. LES TABATIÈRES HISTORIQUES ET POLITIQUES. \r\n\r\nGombrich, E.H. (1979), THE DREAM OF REASON:SYMBOLISM OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, 2: 187–205.\r\n\r\nHarden, J. David, 'Liberty Caps and Liberty Trees' Past & Present, No. 146 (Feb., 1995), pp. 66-102\r\n\r\nSymbols, Myths and Images of the French Revolution: Essays in Honour of James A. Leith\r\nI. A. N. GERMANI, James A. Leith, R. J. W. Swales, University of Regina. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. Dept. of History. CPRC Press, 1998 \r\n\n\n\r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"French Revolution","id":"V150"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"floral patterns","id":"AAT10135"},{"text":"republics","id":"AAT179493"},{"text":"Masonic symbols","id":"x35959"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Gallery 128 Decant 2003\n\nPainted with Republican emblems","date":{"text":"07/06/2004","earliest":"2004-06-07","latest":"2004-06-07"}}],"partNumbers":["C.383-1909"],"accessionNumberNum":"383","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1909,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN2967","2019LP9901","2019LV2426","2019LW6982"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-14","recordCreationDate":"2004-06-07","availableToBook":false}}