Sevres | Aletas Antiques

Sevres

An area of Paris known for porcelain production. Most people think of ‘Sevres’ as a manufacturer, or a brand name, because of the fame and reputation of the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, formerly a royal manufacture and now run by the French Government (Ministry of Culture). The factory was intended to service the sovereign and the state by providing decorative items for state buildings, and gifts to foreign dignitaries. Most importantly, it has been an important research facility for the French ceramic industries for over 200 years. Sevres still manufactures presents for foreign dignitaries, and its museum houses important collections of ceramics in all categories.

There are other ceramic factories that may have marked their pieces as being manufactured 'à Sèvres'. As Sevres' purpose was never to manufacture en masse for the public, genuine Sevres pieces are extremely rare and therefore are very valuable. Forgeries and reproductions abound.