Sevres Extraordinaire!

A comprehensive, in-depth examination of nearly three centuries of sculptural production from Frances famous Svres Porcelain Manufactory Svres Extraordinaire! brings to light the production of sculpture at Svres over the 280 years of the institutions existencefrom the first attempts at soft-paste porcelain to the revolutionary decision to skip the glaze application, producing a matte white evocative of marble. Other new techniques followed, emulating classic sculptural materials such as bronze and gold. These processes set Svres apart and ensured its long-standing success with the medium. This book offers an overview of the artists, artisans, and patrons who converged over the years at Svres, and whose ideas represent a microcosm of larger developments in art and culture. Considering the term sculpture in its broadest sense, it features vases, dining-table centerpieces, clocks, inkstands, and rare cups and saucers alongside objects such as busts, figures, and medallions. The history is told through material, much of which has never been illustrated, that includes drawings, plaster molds, and terracotta models housed in the archives of the Svres Manufactory and in the Muses nationaux, as well as finished sculptures designed by artists including tienne Maurice Falconet (17161791), Franois Boucher (17031770), Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (18241887), Auguste Rodin (18401917), Louise Bourgeois (19112010), and Giuseppe Penone (b. 1947). Distributed for Bard Graduate Center Exhibition Schedule: Bard Graduate Center, New York (September 20, 2024January 5, 2025)