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Cup and Saucer (tasse litron)

Manufactory Sèvres Manufactory French
 Painted and gilded by Etienne-Henry Le Guay French

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 899

This cup shows Benjamin Franklin while the saucer depicts symbols of the Franco- American Treaty of Alliance, signed on February 6, 1778. Considered an apostle of liberty, Franklin was celebrated as much for his scientific achievements and perceived wisdom as for his simplicity of dress. The American diplomat enjoyed a kind of cult status in France and his image was widely disseminated.

Cup and Saucer (tasse litron), Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present), Soft-paste porcelain, French

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