Sevres Écuelle Gerard 1811

Description

Given as a New Year’s Day gift in 1812 to Napoleon’s sister Elisa Baciocchi Grand Duchess of Tuscany, the bowl with a gilded inside, painted in gold on red ground, saucer centre with extremely finely painted leaf decoration, foot and saucer edged with red half-pearls, foot in the form of bundled ears of corn with garland of vine leaves, bowl with two finely-painted cameo medallions of allegoric scenes of the birth of Napoleon’s son the King of Rome, edged with gold relief decoration, two handles in form of cornucopia with cherubs.

Provenance

Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Elisa Baciocchi, née Bonaparte 1812 - ?

History & Context

Given by the Empress Marie-Louise & Napoleon, to his sister Elisa Baciocchi Grand Duchess of Tuscany, in 1812 as a New Year’s Day gift, celebrating the birth of his son the ‘roi de Rome’.

The “Gérard form” ecuelle (King of Rome ecuelle)
Specifically created for the baptism of the King of Rome, this form takes its name from its designer, Claude-Charles Gérard aîné (1757–1826), one of the most gifted decorative painters at the manufactory. Initially a painter of flowers and figures, he later became head of painters and gilders, active from 1771 to 1825.
Only eight Gérard-form ecuelles were produced by the manufactory between 1811 and 1819, of which six were made during the Empire, with only four celebrating the birth of the roi de rome..
From February, the turners and moulders began work on six bowls which, judged imperfect, were remade. Alexandre Brachard, sculptor at the manufactory, was tasked with producing the cornucopia handles, the small zephyrs, and the putto crowning the lid.
Ready to be handed to the ornamentalists by April, it was clearly specified that the decoration must be executed “to the highest perfection.”
Three ecuelles of this Gérard form were delivered during 1811, all themed with allegories relating to the birth of the King of Rome.
The first, with a purple ground, was ultimately presented by Napoleon to Marie-Louise during their visit to the manufactory on the eve of the baptism, 9 June 1811. This required the Grand Chamberlain’s office to revise the list of gifts for the godmothers.

Rarity and distribution
Only two additional richly decorated ecuelles of this model were created and offered as New Year gifts by Empress Marie-Louise.
Of these:
One green-ground example was given to the Comtesse de Beauvau (née Rochechouart)
The other in red (cherry) was given to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany
These pieces are recorded:
At Sèvres as “coupe de forme Gérard” and in the Grand Chamberlain’s records as “bouillon cup”
Unlike the Empress’s cup, whose cameos were interpreted by Louis-Bertin Parant, the cameos on Elisa’s cup are directly taken from Prud’hon’s allegorical designs for the cradle of the King of Rome.
That cradle, offered by the City of Paris, is referenced through the presence of its arms on one of the cameos.

Marks & Inscriptions

Incised - bowl
OZ = 1810
g n = ?
g n = GODIN Charles retired 1817

Incised - under plate
D L = DAVIGNON Louis-Balthazard-Henry

Stamped under plate
M. Imple.
de Sevres
1811

Additional photographs