France no stranger to Chinese art

Aristocrats in France began building collections of Chinese art before 1700.

The Dauphin Louis de France (1661-1711) set up two apartments at the chateau de Meudon with Chinese decor, art and ornaments. Philippe de France (1640-1701), the king's brother, kept his Chinese ceramics at the chateau de Saint-Cloud. His son, Philippe d'Orleans, Regent of France (1674-1723), inherited his interests, and his collection comprised countless pieces of custom-made Chinese porcelain, including vases, cups and plates painted with the 'arms of Orleans'.

From 1720 onward, trade between southern China and France flourished. Exhibit9 is a large punch bowl showing the French factory in Canton behind the white flag of the French monarchy.

Ships of the French Company sailed from the ports of Brittany - principally Nantes, Saint-Malo and Lorient.

As Sino-French trade prospered, wealthy merchants and prominent families soon followed the royal taste for Chinese art. Among the staggering quantities of imported goods were armorial services, often for Breton aristocrats.

On the occasion of marriages, armorial services comprising between 200 and 400 pieces, were produced and adorned with the coats of arms of the two families. Exhibit59 belongs to such a set commemorating the marriage of Philippe Vincent Roger de la Mouchetiere to Rose-Eulalie Mautaudoin.

Daniel Marot (1661-1752), the Parisian architect and decorator, was considerably influential in Europe.