A History And Description Of French Porcelain

Porcelain is power, prestige, desire. In this classic French porcelain history book, Ernest Simon Auscher opens the cabinets of kings and connoisseurs to reveal how fragile clay became the glory of European royal tableware. Ranging from early experiments in French soft paste porcelain to the triumphs of the Sevres porcelain manufactory under Louis XV, he traces the rise of 18th century French porcelain in dialogue - and rivalry - with Meissen and Sevres porcelain traditions across the continent. The result is both decorative arts history study and antique ceramics reference guide, rich in stylistic insight, technical explanation, and courtly context from Saint-Cloud to Limoges and Sevres china. Written by a pioneering historian of ceramics, this enduring porcelain collectors guide has long served as a trusted reference for antique dealers, museum students, and enthusiasts who want to read marks, understand factories, and distinguish truly great Louis XV era ceramics from later imitations. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today's and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector's item and a cultural treasure. Equally inviting to the curious reader and the serious decorative-arts collector, Auscher's study preserves the world of French porcelain at the very moment it became a symbol of taste, power and refinement across Europe.