IN THE MUSEUM : Château de Versailles
Eggcup – Louis XVI era
This soft-paste porcelain eggcup from Sèvres is part of a set called “à perles et barbeaux” (beads and cornflowers) which was delivered to Queen Marie-Antoinette in 1782 for the Petit-Trianon.
Donated by the Kraemer family.
Location: Château de Versailles.
This eggcup is part of a set called “à perles et barbeaux” (beads and cornflowers) which was commissioned in 1781 for the Petit-Trianon. It was delivered to Marie-Antoinette on January 2nd 1782 during an
exhibition that would take place every year in the King’s private lodgings in Versailles.
The Sèvres set originally included two hundred and ninety five pieces. It is a testament to Marie-Antoinette’s taste for delicate flowery patterns. The row of cornflowers is framed by two beaded friezes.
The earliest artwork known to have featured cornflowers was a gobelet litron that was commissioned by the Duchesse de Mazarin in 1774. The Queen was the one who set the trend. Several factories began producing items featuring cornflower patterns. These designs adorned porcelain sets that belonged to the likes of the Comtesse de Provence and the Comtesse d’Artois, as well as other royals.
