Since the creation of the porcelain manufactory of Sevres under Louis XV with the support of the Marquise de Pompadour, the king passed large orders.
In 1830, the Duke of Orleans is designated King following the Revolution named the Trois Glorieuses which had led Charles X to abdicate.
The king has nine children and he moved with his family in the former royal and imperial residences such as Trianon, the Tuileries and Fontainebleau as well as in private residences including Neuilly, Eu or Bizy.
The king removes the Grand Couvert and establishes four types of Sevres porcelain services for his suite and family.

Le service des offices

In royal castles, the staffs were numerous and Louis-Philippe gave them a porcelain service performs by the Manufacture de Sèvres.

The pieces are in white porcelain and are distinguished by the simple initials of the King "LP" crowned in red for homes in Paris or near Paris and in blue for the others.

The pieces are traditionally marks on the underside with the name of the castle. .

©Osenat

Le service des officiers

Let us remember that at the time, society is very hierarchical. The service des officiers was for officers of the king's house, doctors, secretaries, chaplains, aides and tutors.

It differs from the preceding only by the monogram of the king that here is golden.

The original residence of porcelain is identifiable by the red seal of the back.

Le service des Princes

It is the service used by the king and his family every day for their meals in the various castles of the crown and the private domain.
It features a gold decor consisting of a frieze of ivy leaves and the large monogram of the King "LP" under closed crown surrounded by a garland of branches knotted oak leaves and laurel.

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It should be emphasized that in 1848, all residences did not possess their service and that of the Château de Compiegne, perhaps for reasons of economy, reused a service used by Napoleon I, Louis XVIII and Charles X to which were added the monogram of Louis-Philippe.

It should be emphasized that a number of pieces of this porcelain service were redecorated in the late nineteenth century by two cherubs on a cloud.

Le service des bals

Private collection

It differs from the previous by a line of gold around the edge and the large initials of the king as in the porcelain service of princes.

It has the castle name underneath.

All those ceramics, executed in Sevres hard paste are distinguished by the use of neoclassical forms developed under the Empire. These services were dispersed and sold during the 1848 revolution and it is possible to see them at auction or on some flea markets.

The pieces created for the king and his family are a safe value sought by amateurs, collectors and museums as the Chateau d'Eu.

Cedric Henon, Continental furniture specialist

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Main illustration: Sucrier en porcelaine de Sèvres, service des Princes pour le chateau des Tuileries. ©Couteau-Begarie.