Rare Sèvres Porcelain Set Sells for 166,400 Euros at Auction

A rare 1847 Sèvres porcelain set discovered during an estate inventory in Toulouse sold for 166,400 euros at Christie’s in Paris, far exceeding its initial estimate of 30,000 to 50,000 euros, La Dépêche reported.

Auctioneer François de Malafosse found the items packed inside a small wooden box in a wardrobe while visiting a private home to see paintings. The final bid surpassed the high end of the pre-sale valuation by 116,400 euros and was won by a European collector.

The items form an articulated Chinese breakfast service manufactured by the Manufacture royale de Sèvres in 1846 and 1847. Historical records show the royal factory presented the set on April 23, 1847, to Count Bresson, a senior diplomat who served under Charles X and Louis-Philippe, as a token of appreciation for services rendered to the Crown.

“J’étais allé au domicile d’un particulier pour voir des tableaux. Et, dans une penderie, il y avait cette petite caisse. Les gens savaient qu’il y avait quelque chose, mais ils étaient très loin d’imaginer sa valeur. Ce qui était très amusant, c’était de voir la façon dont cet objet d’une telle qualité était en fait dans un dressing, complètement oublié.”

François de Malafosse

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“They were very far from imagining its value,” said de Malafosse, La Dépêche reported. “What was very amusing was seeing the way this object of such quality was actually in a dressing room, completely forgotten.”

The porcelain service exists in only three known examples globally. One is held by an American museum, another by the Cité de la céramique in Sèvres, and the third remained stored in a wardrobe in Toulouse until its discovery during the estate inventory.

The exceptional condition of the pieces and the intricate detail of the craftsmanship contributed to intense competition in the Paris auction room. Bidding climbed until the European collector secured the lot at more than five times the base estimate of 30,000 euros.