Plate, 18th century, Sèvres porcelain manufactory, France

The Sèvres Manufactory, also known as the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, is a French porcelain factory that has been producing high quality porcelain since 1756. It is located in the town of Sèvres, just outside Paris. The factory was founded by King Louis XV to compete with the famous Meissen porcelain factory in Germany. The factory quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the finest porcelain in Europe and became a favourite of French royalty and aristocracy. Over the years, the Sèvres Manufactory has produced a wide range of porcelain pieces, including dinnerware, vases, figurines and decorative objects. Many of these pieces are now sought after by collectors. The factory is renowned for its use of intricate and detailed decoration techniques such as hand-painting and gilding. It also produces porcelain in a wide range of colours, including the famous "Bleu de Sèvres" (Sèvres Blue). The Sèvres Manufactory is still in operation today and continues to produce some of the finest porcelain in the world. Its pieces are highly prized by collectors and can be found in museums and private collections around the world.