Sèvres-Style Porcelain Inkstand: Barrat Attributed

This is a decorative porcelain inkstand executed in the opulent style of 19th-century French luxury porcelain factories. The combination of intricate hand-painting, gilded work, and extensive silver overlay suggests the piece dates to the late 19th or early 20th century, capitalizing on the historical prestige of Sèvres.

• Form & Materials: The inkstand is a singular piece with a rectangular, serpentine-edged base/tray made of porcelain. It features an integrated inkwell with a separate, fitted lid, and a shallow central tray.
• Porcelain Decoration: The piece is elaborately hand-painted with multiple decorative panels (cartouches).
  • Central Tray: The main focus is the hand-painted scene depicting cherubs (putti) holding and surrounded by fruit, rendered in a classical or rococo revival style.
  • Integrated Inkwell: The body of the inkwell is decorated with a hand-painted vignette of two doves, a classical motif symbolizing love or fidelity.
  • Inkwell Lid: The lid is adorned with delicately painted flowers.
• Metalwork (Silver Overlay): A distinctive feature is the extensive application of silver overlay across the entire porcelain body. This decorative technique, popular from the late 19th century onward, involves electroplating a thick, detailed layer of silver onto the porcelain surface, enhancing the luxurious, contrasting aesthetic.
• Marks: The piece carries the blue “Sevres mark” (interlaced ‘L’s) on the underside. Given the style and silver overlay, this mark places the piece in the “Sèvres Style” category, indicating a 19th-century Parisian workshop that produced high-quality luxury wares emulating the historic royal factory.

Artist Attribution: François-Marie Barrat (FB)

The small decorator’s signature found on the central panel is an homage to, or a direct copy of, the mark of a recognized 18th-century Sèvres artist:

• Attributed Painter: François-Marie Barrat
• Mark: FB (found alongside the “Sevres” designation).
• Historical Context: François-Marie Barrat was an official painter (Decorator) at the Sèvres Royal Porcelain Manufactory, active between 1769 and 1796. His original mark (FB) is documented in factory records.
• Significance: In the 19th century, workshops producing Sèvres-style goods often signed their pieces using the initials of famous 18th-century masters like Barrat to increase the piece’s perceived value and authenticity. This highly specialized signature suggests a high-end atelier was responsible for its creation.