tour de france sevres

• An exceptional manufactory
• Trade & Savoir-faire

Expertly crafted works

• Sèvres manufactory marks
• A museum of inspiration
• What is ceramics?
• Friends of the Museum
• Gallery & showroom
• Shows and exhibitions
• Bespoke projects
• Graphic art collection
• What's on
• Ticket Office
• Opening hours

An emblematic work created at the manufactory

Le vaisseau à mats Pompadour

• National Ceramics Museum of Sèvres
• What to see and do
• Museums and monuments
• Museums and cultural sites

Description

Community facilities, accessibility.

On the edge of the National Domain of Saint-Cloud to the west of Paris, the National Ceramics Museum of Sèvres brings together the rich collections of the Ceramics Museum , created in the early 19th century by the scholar Alexandre Brongniart , and the incredible, historic Sèvres Manufactory . Founded under Louis XV , it was recognised throughout Europe for the incomparable quality of its porcelain.

A collection of 55,000 pieces

On the outskirts of Paris, the museum exhibits an exceptional collection of some 55,000 pieces dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, sourced from around the world. On the ground floor, works originating from both east and west emphasise the rich diversity of 16th-century ceramics .

The first floor focuses on magnificent collections of European earthenware and porcelain . Contemporary designers are also on the museum’s radar, with a varied programme of temporary exhibitions .

Backstage, the Sèvres porcelain workshops give visitors a chance to discover the secret of the famous Sèvres Blue. Real aficionados will opt for a guided tour, which uncovers more secrets of this ancestral art .

Before leaving, don’t forget to make a stop at the boutique , which offers a vast selection of Sèvres porcelain . From contemporary creations to vases, decorative objects and biscuit pottery, there’s something to suit all tastes.

The arts of the table are represented through the ages at the MAD - Musée des arts décoratifs , in the heart of Paris, a stone's throw from the musée du Louvre .

Access and contact

• https://www.sevresciteceramique.fr/en.html

Days and opening hours

From 31/12/2022 to 31/12/2023, every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

• Full price: 7 € Reduced price: 5 € Group adults: 5 € Set price group adults: 250 €. Free entry for children < 18 years. Ticket for visits to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions: full price: €8 / reduced price: €6 Paris Museum Pass accepted: free access.
• Themed tour
• Guided tours
• Children&#039;s entertainment
• Handicrafts workshops

Spoken languages

Guided tour languages, bulletin board languages.

• http://www.sevresciteceramique.fr/site.php?type=P&id=501
• [email protected]
• 01 46 29 22 09
• + 33 (0)6 48 27 25 52 (deaf)
• Physical disability
• Deaf / Hard of Hearing
• Visual impairment
• Mental / Cognitive

Pratical informations

• access to the establishment: graspable outside call button The height of the call button is less than 130cm and is positioned on a wall within reach of a wheelchair. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• floor-level pathways Hard, smooth pathways, non-slip and floor-level. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• pathways that change levels are offset by a sloping surface A sloping surface with an incline of less than or equal to 6% is provided to overcome this change of level.The following slope values are tolerated as an exception:- up to 10% over a distance less than or equal to 2m- up to 12% over a distance less than or equal to 0.50mA rest platform is required at the top and bottom of each sloping surface, regardless of its length.In the case of a sloping surface with an incline greater or equal to 5%, a rest platform is required every 10m. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• adapted access control to the car park If the car park is enclosed, the car park access control unit is accessible from the driver’s seat and if the car park is underground, the minimum height is 2.15m. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• reserved and adapted parking space located close to the entrance of the site It must be marked out on the ground and indicated by a vertical sign. The parking area must measure a minimum of 3.30. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• parking spaces laid out and connected to the road or building by an accessible pathway Hard, smooth pathways, non-slip and floor-level. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• reception desk easily identifiable and accessible There must be at least one lowered section with enough space (70cm high, 30cm deep and 60cm wide) under the counter to allow for the feet and knees of the seated person. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• free admission for one accompanying person
• free admission on presentation of proof of entitlement
• the accessible entrance is the main entrance Floor-level entrance, usable passing width of the door 77cm. If the entrance has an access ramp (integrated, removable, etc.) the latter must not exceed 6% (over 10m).Manoeuvring space in front of the door. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• the accessible entrance is the secondary entrance (indicated) Floor-level entrance, usable passing width of the door 77cm (or 1.20m with at least one two-way panel of 80cm for doors to premises with over 100. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• staff informed or trained
• specific tariff policy
• manual entrance door
• accessible information plates a maximum of 1m30cm from the floor.tilted information plates.Possibility to get up close. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• all documentation graspable Documentation presented at a height of between 80cm and 130cm.Accessible room cards.. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• performance room with a reserved space
• accessible cloakroom Easily identifiable and accessible, lowered section with enough space under the counter to allow for the feet and knees of the seated person. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• multimedia content access system compensation device for inaccessible areas. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• spaces equipped with reserved spaces and adapted to people in wheelchairs
• floor-level establishment No stairs or steps. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• wheelchair loan
• seated area available
• seated areas available (several spread out across the entire site)
• présence d’un lave main dans les sanitaires adaptés
• accessible communal toilets Height of the toilet seat between 46cm and 50cm, maximum distance between the toilet seat and the support rail 40cm, horizontal side support rail at a height of between 70cm and 80cm, side manoeuvring area (80cm. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the right Position yourself parallel to the toilet seat, back facing the wall. Do you go to the right or to the left to sit down?. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• toilets: transfer direction onto the toilet seat to the left Position yourself parallel to the toilet seat, back facing the wall. Do you go to the right or to the left to sit down?. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• Communal staircase adapted for secure movement Step height 17cm maximum, contrasting and non-slip step tread (at least 3cm), 1st and last riser contrasting, warning strip (visual and tactile) in descent at a distance of 50cm from the tread of the first step (this distance may be reduced to 28cm from the first step of the staircase), handrail on each side at a height of between 80cm and 100cm which extends horizontally one step’s length before and after the first and last step. 1m width between the handrails. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• adapted elevator Passing width: 80cm, interior width: 100cm, depth: 130cm minimum and controls situated at a height of less than 130cm. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• visual intercom Intercom devices are equipped with a system enabling staff at the establishment to see the visitor. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• adapted access control to the car park Videophone and access control equipped with a magnetic loop. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• acceo: instant speech transcription and visio-interpretation in French sign language (LSF)
• reception/information desk equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
• reservation/contact via SMS and/or email
• reservation possible by webcam
• staff trained in French sign language (LSF)
• uniform signage to help people find their way around
• text/image signage Make it easy to find your way around and combine text & images, large characters and positioning allowing a proximity of 5cm or over. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• performance or tour assistance aids Surtitles.Written materials. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• visual alarm with flashing light in isolated spaces
• intercom equipped with a hearing assistance system with a magnetic loop
• audiovisuals are in French sign language (LSF)
• subtitled audiovisuals
• visioguide with overlay in French sign language (LSF)
• subtitled visioguide
• adapted elevator Display of floor levels and installation of a magnetic loop. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• audioguides equipped with a volume control device
• audioguides equipped with induction loops
• independent visit possible
• guided tour in French sign language (LSF)
• guided tour in international sign language (ISL)
• guided tours with lip reading
• guided tours with an amplifying device
• guided tours with a magnetic loop device
• exterior pathways identifiable by touch The difference in texture between the pathway and its borders, or the borders in relief, make them identifiable by touch using feet or a cane. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• exterior pathways visually identifiable A colour contrast helps increase the visual perception of the pathways. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• exterior lighting control system in communal areas In order to avoid all sources of glare. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• interior pathways identifiable by touch Changes in floor textures make it possible to follow a direction using feet or a cane to detect the pathway. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• interior pathways visually identifiable
• audioguide with description elements
• audioguide with guidance elements
• Braille documentation
• documentation in enlarged characters
• swell paper documentation
• offset or no obstacles at face height Offset means a ground-level device designed to circumvent the obstacle thus ensuring that people cannot hit their head.Please specify in the left-hand section which obstacles are at face height. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• navigation assistance tool (e.g. map/model - in relief/large characters/contrasting colours)
• possibility to control the lighting
• magnifying glass loan
• glass surfaces identifiable via contrasted elements in relation to the immediate surroundings These contrasted elements may be glued, painted or embedded. It is recommended to place elements horizontally at 1.10m and 1.60m. The thickness of horizontal patterns must be a minimum of 5cm. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• audiodescription system Audio commentaries to facilitate access to content. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• elevator with audio announcements for each floor
• elevator with identifiable call buttons Call buttons and floor controls identifiable visually and by touch (relief, large characters, contrasting colours). " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• Legible information plates Possibility to get up close (5cm to 25cm).Sufficient character size and contrast.Legible font type (arial and verdana).Reflection-free. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• specific accessible information plates Information plates in Braille, in relief with large characters. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• tactile tour
• the dangers identified have been addressed Secure and closed establishment (staff present on site) with no direct access to a dangerous environment with no indication (e.g.: lake, swimming pool, busy road). " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• brochures/documentations classified by topic Simple classification by geographic position, type of site, etc. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• simplified adapted documentation (illustration through images, photos, drawings)
• adapted signage Make it easy to find your way around and combine text & images. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• adapted activities
• educational workshops
• adapted room cards
• specific tours
• adapted opening hours (morning performances)
• children's programme
• childcare service
• family tariffs/free admission for children
• secure and closed establishment
• large lockers or left luggage lockers for pushchairs
• possibility to leave pushchairs at the cloakroom
• baby carrier loan
• pushchair loan
• changing table
• children's/family applications for the tour
• audioguides with a children's circuit
• children's visit booklets/games
• pushchairs accepted for the tour
• visioguides with a children's circuit
• Pathways that change levels are offset by a sloping surface
• pets accepted on site and during guided tours
• reception/information desk equipped with a sound amplification system
• free admission for persons aged over 60
• Offer adapted to seniors
• cane wheelchair loan
• horizontal support rail
• diagonal support rail to enable the seated person to raise themselves up easily
• communal staircase adapted for secure movement Handrail on both sides. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• private staircase adapted for secure movement Handrail on both sides. " data-tooltip-close-text="Close" data-tooltip-close-title="Close this window" id="label_tooltip" onclick="dataLayer && dataLayer.push({ 'event': 'ClicAccessibilityPopinInfo' });" >
• stairs compensated for by a lift or an elevator
• Specific accessible information plates (large characters)
• Copyright image:
• Gérard Jonca

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Vive Sèvres! A Tour of France’s Oldest Porcelain Manufactory

By Madeleine Luckel

If you happen to find yourself staying in an excellent hotel in Paris and dining well for more than a brief stint, a day trip (or two) is often in order. Architecture buffs can tour the surrounding French Gothic cathedrals , while gardening enthusiasts can finally make that lifelong desired pilgrimage to Giverny . But if your particular interest happens to be the decorative arts, and you harbor a secret, unabashed love for all things porcelain, there’s no better place to go than Sèvres, France.

This commune, located in Hauts-de-Seine, is the home of the world-renowned Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres. Founded in 1740, the factory is still considered to be the world capital for all things porcelain. A symbol of its fame, pieces produced there are often simply referred to as Sèvres porcelain. And while Sèvres, the town and the business, are both steeped in rich history, they’re also constantly innovating.

Recently, established event designer David Stark paid the factory a visit. As Stark’s gorgeously composed tablescapes prove , he knows a thing or two about fine china. Above, he shares his travel diary of the factory exclusively with Vogue . Stark explains, “The Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres is comprised of a series of hangars that house the design studios, fabrication factories, and [object] storage.” Those packed-away items in question are, as Stark puts it, “the most amazing objects and plaster molds that you have ever seen.”

So sit back, relax, and pretend you are a porcelain-maker in 1740—or 2017.

Vogue Daily

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Tour de France Stage 21 Preview: Everything You Need to Know

All the stage information you need, including why it matters, which riders to watch, and who to root for

Why It Matters For sprinters, there is no greater honor than winning on the Champs-Élysées—especially since to do so, a rider needs to survive to make it there. Considering the mountainous final week of this year’s race, that is an impressive feat for every rider left in this year’s Tour, let alone the sprinters who usually struggle when roads tilt upward.

Who to Watch Andre Greipel has proven to be the best pure sprinter in this year’s race. The Lotto-Soudal rider has won three stages and would love to become the third consecutive German rider to win four stages including the Tour’s final stage on the Champs. (Marcel Kittel did it in both 2013 and 2014.)

Mark Cavendish is another favorite for the victory tomorrow. Cav won this stage four years in a row from 2009 to 2012 and would love to end his 2015 Tour with an unprecedented fifth victory on the Champs.

And don’t forget men like Peter Sagan and Alexander Kristoff. Sagan has already done enough to win his fourth green jersey, but he would love to go home with a stage win as well. As for Kristoff, he came into the race expecting to win several stages and challenge Sagan for the green jersey, but has failed to deliver on either front. A stage win tomorrow would send him home with a smile.

CURRENT STANDINGS

Root for This Guy Adam Hansen (Lotto-Soudal) When he crosses the finish line in Paris tomorrow, Lotto-Soudal’s Adam Hansen will have completed his twelfth consecutive Grand Tour. Yes, that’s right: Hansen has started and finished every single Grand Tour since the 2011 Tour of Spain. A finish tomorrow will tie him with Spain’s Bernardo Ruiz, who completed his 12 during the 1950s—at a time when the Tour of Spain was only two weeks long. If he finishes the Tour of Spain this fall, the record will be Hansen’s alone.  

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Tour de France - Road race Men - Stage 21

• Overall standings

General Standing

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LIVE: Sèvres - Paris

Tour de France - July 26th, 2015

Follow the Tour de France Sèvres - Paris stage live with Eurosport. Sèvres - Paris starts at 3:35 PM on July 26th, 2015.

Catch the latest cycling news and find Tour de France results , standings and routes. After Sèvres - Paris is done, be sure to check out the full schedule of stages and get live updates for the next stage. You can also find a list of previous winners .

Follow Rui Costa, Mathieu van der Poel, Mark Cavendish and other key riders to see who is dominating this season. See the hottest cycling teams in action - Bora-Hansgrohe, Ineos Grenadiers and Cofidis to name a few.

Cycling fans can read breaking Tour de France news headlines, interviews, expert commentary, replays & highlights. Keep up with all of this season’s top events, including the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.

Make Eurosport your go-to source for sports online from cycling to football, tennis, snooker and more. Enjoy live updates from the biggest sports competitions.

Art, travel and culture blog

• Museums and heritage

The Sèvres Manufacture: 280 yers and an intact expertise

In France, at the gates of Paris, the Sèvres Manufacture is committed to transmitting a know-how that is more than three centuries old! Since the creation of this porcelain factory under Louis XV in 1740, Sèvres has built up a reputation commensurate with its talent. Each piece that leaves its workshops, from the smallest saucer to the most imposing vase, is a masterpiece that makes its craftsmen proud.

But can you still be modern when you have blown out your 280th candle? Today, Sèvres collaborates with the greatest contemporary artists to create remarkable pieces, pushing the technical limits even further without turning its back on its rich history. Let’s discover this factory – a little bit magical – that manages to transform pebbles into ultra-luxury!

A short history of Sèvres Porcelain

Born in China, porcelain fascinates by its whiteness and translucency. Under the Ancien Régime, it was nicknamed “white gold” : it was an ultra-luxury item, extremely sought after, so much so that several European courts set out to discover the secrets of its manufacture. Knowing how to make porcelain then became a real political issue!

What is porcelain?

Porcelain is a material composed of three rocks: kaolin, feldspar and quartz. Its whiteness is close to the mother-of-pearl of the shell “porcellana”, which gave it its name.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the discovery of a kaolin deposit in Saxony allowed the creation of the first porcelain factory outside of China, the royal factory in Meissen. France then took on the challenge of unlocking the mysteries of its manufacture.

Father François-Xavier d’Entrecolles , a Jesuit from Limoges on a mission to China, described for the first time the technique of porcelain manufacture – this was one of the first cases of industrial espionage! At the same time, Louis XV, encouraged by Madame de Pompadour, financed the creation of the Manufacture de Vincennes in 1740 , which managed to carry out conclusive tests. French creations became luxury products, able to compete with porcelain from China or Saxony.

In 1756, the factory was transferred to Sèvres under the impetus of Madame de Pompadour, who owned her castle of Bellevue not far away. That same year, Louis XV became the sole shareholder of the factory and attached it to the Crown’s domain in 1759. From then on, the factory remained attached to the power of the State (the Crown, the Empire or the Republic, according to the regimes) which made it possible to preserve its archives and its know-how.

Visit of the Sèvres Manufacture

Pushing the doors of the Sèvres factory gives the impression of a timetravel because if the technological advances have facilitated on certain points the production methods, it has never been at the expense of the hand. Thus, the furnaces have evolved, the turning of certain pieces is done thanks to electricity … but almost all the tasks remain manual because porcelain is a capricious material that the machine can hardly tame. The Sèvres factory thus claims a niche production to create art objects in small series.

“We prefer to produce few, beautiful and perfect.”

The manufacture of a porcelain goes through several stages. For some pieces, the porcelain arrives in liquid form (known as barbotine ) and is poured into one of the 100,000 plaster molds that the factory keeps in reserve, a treasure nicknamed “The Magot” !

Once cast and after drying, the pieces are then meticulously retouched by hand.

For other creations, soft paste porcelain is used in the sculpture or turning workshops.

Do not lose the know-how

The factory has six wood-fired kilns, but only one is still in working order. This method of firing requires 33 hours to reach 1200 degrees; the supply of 4 furnaces continuously and then a month of rest before opening to avoid thermal shock – which makes it a particularly laborious tool.

Although new, more modern ovens are used today, the wood-fired oven is still put into service every four years to ensure that this know-how is not lost and is passed on.

Among the various workshops at Sèvre, one of the most impressive is the one dedicated to painting. Here, the craftsmen work blindly because the colors change during the firing process. They must therefore use a “palette” developed during their apprenticeship as a reference. A distinction is made between high fire and low fire colors , which fire above and below 1000 degrees respectively. Most pieces require several attempts at painting before the final version is validated. Some designs require up to 300 hours of work! It can take up to 6 years to produce a batch of 12 plates for the most complex designs.

The Sèvres palette now includes more than 1000 colors, including the famous “Sèvres blue” which has become the identity of the factory! This last one requires three successive poses (and thus three firings) to give it this intensity.

Most of the pieces produced at Sèvre, especially those related to the art of the table (cups, plates…) then go to the spinning-gold workshop . Crushed gold mixed with essential oil of lavender is applied by hand.

All of Sèvre’s agents are art technicians. As you talk with the artisans, you realize that each piece has an anecdote, a story to tell. And if these same artisans will confide in you with great modesty that they are not the artists and that they “only” produce the piece that has been asked of them, do not trust their testimony because their know-how requires long experience and high technicality. Without them, Sèvres would not exist .

Sèvres and contemporary art

Since the 18th century, the Sèvres Manufactory has been in the habit of collaborating with artists . A tradition that continues today and allows this old lady to keep her youthfulness and to push the technical limits of porcelain ever further.

Arman, Louise Bourgeois, Jean Arp, Johan Creten, Giuseppe Penone, Pierre Soulages, Lee Ufan, Zao Wou-ki, Annette Messager and many others have left their mark on the history of Sèvres and prove that porcelain remains resolutely modern.

Birth of a Ceramics Museum

In 1800, Alexandre Brongniart was appointed to head the factory. For 47 years, this scientist will considerably develop Sèvres and give it an international reputation. He also initiated the creation of the museum, at a time when it was necessary to bring to Sèvres a center of ideas .

This museum with its international and universal vocation is not only dedicated to Sèvres. It is a museum of inspiration that has brought together forms, decorations, colors and techniques from all over the world, from antiquity to the present day. There are now more than 50,000 pieces , including several contemporary works.

“Porcelain is not just cups and saucers!” Charlotte Vignon, Director of Heritage and Collections at the museum

Buy a Sèvres porcelain

The factory produces mainly for the State and supplies in particular the table service of the Elysée. But some pieces are for sale , especially those related to contemporary creation.

Of course, this handcrafted work has a cost, not everyone can afford a Sèvres service (count €600 for a cup!) and the most delicate pieces signed by renowned artists can largely exceed €100,000.

Some old porcelain regularly resurfaces in auction houses. Recently, three remarkable 19th century plates were sold at Auctie’s for between €9 and €19,000 each!

However, it is possible to make a (nice) gift by offering a small sculpture in Sèvres cookie (the porcelain left bare, without enamel or painted decoration), a jewel or a vase on the e-shop of the Manufacture . The first pieces are offered from 270 €.

As you can see, buying a piece produced at Sèvres is above all buying a know-how and a history, and that is priceless!

Useful informations

Please note that only the museum can be visited. The factory is only open to the public on rare occasions such as the Heritage Days.

Adress: Sèvres – Ceramics museum 2 place de la Manufacture Nationale 92310 Sèvres (France)

Opening hours: Every day except Tuesday From 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm

Website: https://www.sevresciteceramique.fr/en.html

Price: Full price: €7. Reduced rate : €5 for the exhibition +€1 for temporary exhibitions Free for children under 26 years old

Thanks to the Sèvres team and the craftsmen for their welcome and their explanations.

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Private Paris Porcelain Tour

Of the five great centers of porcelain production in the Île de France (St. Cloud, Sèvres, Chantilly, Mennecy and Vincennes) only Sèvres survives, although it can be argued that Chantilly and Vincennes survive through Sèvres. This unique private Sèvres tour of Paris porcelain can take you to visit the Sèvres museum and factory, where you will see its historic collections, as well as witness actual contemporary production.

In our private Sèvres tour, we can also visit some of the outstanding porcelain collections in Paris: the Dutoit and Tuck collections at the Petit Palais Museum, the Cognac-Jay Museum, the Calmann and Grandidier collections at the Guimet Museum, the Nissim de Camondo Museum and its affiliate, the Museum of Decorative Arts, as well as the Jacquemart André Museum.

If you wish to purchase porcelain in Paris or France, Paris Luxury Tours can research availability, locate candidates, e-mail photos to you prior to your arrival, and design a private tour that efficiently takes you see each of the choices. We have often been able to locate items sought by our clients prior to their arrival in France, so that they have been able to conclude their acquisitions during their trip, a free benefit derived from booking our tour.

Interested In Our Private Paris Porcelain Tour?

One of our recent clients was trying to find a pierced Paris Empire basket, and we found it for her in, of all places, Limoges. It was safely delivered to her home in New York painlessly, and at modest cost. We helped another client locate several pieces of late 18th century and early 19th century hard paste Sèvres coffee cups and saucers by taking him directly to the shop of the only specialist in that type of porcelain at the St. Ouen flea market.

“Shahin, Just a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed the tour of the Loire Valley [Custom Loire Valley Day Tour from Paris of 2 chateaux and 1 wine estate]. Let me start by saying the best part of the trip was meeting you and listening and learning about the history of France and specifically Chenonceaux. Your comments and guidance throughout the day made the experience far more than just a sight-seeing trip. Lunch was great and so were Amboise and the wine tasting. I can’t thank you enough for putting this tour together for us, we will enjoy the memories for years to come. Merci beaucoup,”

Stephen Kelly – San Francisco, CA

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