Cambaceres (1753-1824) To contact me

SOME PARTS OF THE SERVICE OF CAMBACERES


THE SEVRES PORCELAIN SERVICE (1805-07)

These plates belong to a service carried out by the Manufacture of Sevres called “Purple : landscapes, fables and views of imperial palaces, for Lord Archchancellor”. This service was delivered in the name of the Emperor in August 1807: it was one of numerous gifts distributed by Napoleon on the occasion of the marriage of Stéphanie de Beauharnais (emperor's niece and adopted daughter) to the prince of Baden.
Jacques François Joseph Swebach
N°51 : Remainders of some ancient Tombs in Syracuse. The Logger and Death.
(Year XIV - 1806)
Alloted to Nicolas-Antoine Lebel
N°65 : View of an Inn in Valmantone.
18 Milles from Rome.

(Year XIV - 1806)
Jacques François Joseph Swebach
N°9 : Waterfalls of St-Cosemate.
The fisherman and the fish.

(1807)
Nicolas-Antoine Lebel
N°7 : View of the Arc of Trajan in Bénévent.
(1807)
In 1805, the manufacture of Sevres begins the realization of a service called “Seen of Italy”. This service is ordered by the Emperor to offer it to Cambaceres. The realization of the first 72 plates and the dishes of service finishes at the summer 1807. Several modifications intervene during the realization: it is decided to associate with the views of Italy, of the views of the imperial palaces as well as illustrations of the fables of Esope. Lastly, Cambaceres wishes to order 24 additional plates.
All the plates are decorated with an purple edge and gilded palmettes. The dishes of service take again the same illustrations that the plates, but are decorated with a light blue edge with gilded insects : it's probably about the heraldic attribute of the great-dignitaries of the Empire (see Blazon). The Manufacture of Sevres delivers the service in August 1807; the 24 additional plates are delivered on December 31, 1807 with a bust of the Emperor and a vase illustrating the marriage of Stéphanie de Beauharnais (see Objects).
In 1805, Brongniart, director of Manufacture, present an estimate estimating the cost of each plate at 114 francs. The real costs are a little higher. Thus the painters are paid between 30 francs and 120 francs per part and gilders 8 francs per part. In 1807, Manufacture invoices 140 francs per plate. One can thus estimate the cost of the services offered to Cambaceres at 13.500 francs, except dishes of service (as comparison the annual wages of a Parisian workman are 1.000 F).
The plates represented above belong to the collection Alexandre and Élaine de Bothuri Bàthory. I thank them to have allowed me to reproduce these plates on my website.

THE COFFEE SERVICE

This service with silver coffee (or vermeil) is not Empire style. Cambaceres re-used the old service coming from a Protestant aunt on whom he makes engrave his armorial bearings.
Perhaps is this Marie Barbe of which it already took again the blazon?

The coffee pot
The teapot
The sugar bowl
The cream pot
the milk pot

03/03/07 - Emmanuel Prunaux