French Eighteenth-Century Porcelain at the Wadsworth Atheneum: J. Pierpont Morgan Collection

One of the most prized segments of the Wadsworth Atheneum’s permanent collection is the large group of French 18th-century porcelains bequeathed by the renowned collector J. Pierpont Morgan. More than 250 individual pieces from the manufactories of Saint-Cloud, Chantilly, Villeroy-Mennecy, Vincennes, and Sevres are published in full in this catalog. Extensive research by the authors gives important insights into this impressive collection and significantly advances our knowledge of French porcelain. The catalogue has 200 entries and each is illustrated with over 90 color plates and more than 220 black-and-white photographs, with 400 thumbnail illustrations of the marks. Each entry covers the history of each piece, its form, usage, and decoration, and provides commentary on dating, style, and decorators. The porcelain has been arranged chronologically by type within each manufactory. An introductory essay further recounts the part played by J. Pierpont Morgan in acquiring the porcelain and other French decorative arts at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its glossary of terms and techniques and the full index add to the accessibility of the text.