pâte tendre porcelain, 16 items: 12 dessert plates Ø 25.5 cm, 1 3-étage centrepiece with gilded bronze mounts height 37 cm, 2 shell dishes Ø 22 cm, 1 circular dish Ø 22.5 cm, segmented body with gilt rims, body with décor ‘Sable d’Or’, gold, green and blue-painted large bell flowers, laurel tendrils with red fruits and colourful garlands of flowers, well with 4 gilt-accented purple-painted shells, blue flower and leaves, all items with gilt notched edges, to the underside of centrepiece laurel wreaths, 1 plate rim slightly chipped, Sèvres, blue mark some with year mark ‘n’, circa 1766, painter Charles-Louis Méreaud jeune, 1735–1780; he painted bouquets of flowers and garlands at Sèvres from 1756–1779 (Ru)

Lit.: L. Danckert, Handbuch des Europäischen Porzellans, p. 533;

Emeric Joseph Jacques Civrac, Marquis de Durfort, b. 19.3.1716, d. 8.4.1787, appointed French ambassador in Vienna on 3.2.1767 under Maria Theresia and Joseph II, and during the reign of Louis XV. The comprehensive service was delivered to the Marquis de Durfort in December 1766. It is possible that the young bride, Marie Antoinette was also invited to visit with the table being set with this service. On 16.5.1770 she married Louis XVI, Durfort returning to France in May of that year.
This porcelain represents part of the service.
It had been thought to be lost, a single plate only known to date, which can be found at the Bowes Museum in Yorkshire.