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Six plaques mounted in a coffer Plaques 'de coffre' of the second size Vincennes Manufactory Possibly Jean-Claude Chambellan Duplessis the Elder (about 1695–1774), Designer Louis Leroy (active between: 1741 - 1758), Goldsmith Vincennes, France: Date: 1754 - 1755

Medium: Soft-paste porcelain, painted and gilded, silver-gilt, mirror-glass, velvet, lace and braid

Object size: a-b, 31 x 20.5 cm
Object size: c-d, 31.5 x 13.2 cm
Object size: e-f, 21 x 13.2 cm

Inv: C495

Location: Back State Room

Caskets or coffers of this kind were probably intended for jewels or toilet articles, and this one is lined in red silk velvet. It is made of six porcelain plaques decorated with a turquoise-blue ground and sprays of flowers and fruits in the white reserves. They were probably bought from the Sèvres factory by the dealer Aulagnier in 1754. He seems to have already commissioned the exceptional silver-gilt mounts from Louis Leroy, probably after designs of Jean-Claude Duplessis père, since these echo the decorative painting and gilding on the porcelain so well. Aulagnier was particularly involved in the Turkish market, and this casket was probably intended for Turkey as part of a large and elaborate toilet service. However the service was never completed, and there is no evidence that this casket ever reached Constantinople, probably because relations between France and Turkey broke down at the beginning of the Seven Years’ War (1756–63).

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