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Cup and Saucer (tasse litron)

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

ca. 1779

Not on view

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 — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Cup and Saucer (tasse litron)

Manufactory: Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present)

Artist: Painted and gilded by Etienne-Henry Le Guay (French, active 1748–49, 1751–97)

Date: ca. 1779

Culture: French

Medium: Soft-paste porcelain

Dimensions: Cup: 3 × 4 × 3 in. (7.6 × 10.2 × 7.6 cm)
Saucer: 1 5/16 × 5 7/8 in. (3.3 × 14.9 cm)

Classification: Ceramics-Porcelain

Credit Line: Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973 (24.151.1-2); Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, Washington, D.C.

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European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at The Met

The Met's comprehensive collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century.