The Manufacture de Sèvres has its origins in the workshops in Vincennes, founded in the mid-18ᵉ century, before moving to Sèvres in 1756 with the support of the monarchy. This new location, with its more extensive infrastructure, enabled the factory to become a major center of porcelain production, combining technical innovation with artisanal excellence. From the outset, Sèvres played a key role in the development of a decorative language unique to France, at a time when porcelain held an essential place in the European decorative arts.
The company first made a name for itself in soft porcelain, a material prized for its softness, brilliance and finesse of decoration. The transition to hard porcelain, which began at the end of the XVIIIᵉ century, marked a new stage in the history of Sèvres. This material, which is stronger and more stable in the kiln, enables the elaboration of ambitious shapes and complex decorations. The workshops then mastered a whole range of skills involving modelers, turners, molders, painters, gilders and chemists, all of whom were essential to the production of the pieces.
Throughout the XIXᵉ century, Sèvres pursued its development by elaborating new colors, new backgrounds and demanding gilding techniques. Painted decors, figurative ornaments and motifs inspired by Antiquity, nature or the graphic arts testify to a constantly evolving visual language. The manufactory also plays a central role in the creation of official services, monumental vases and pieces for international exhibitions, consolidating its status as a state institution dedicated to excellence in the arts of fire.
In the XXᵉ century, Sèvres became more open to contemporary creation. Inviting artists, designers, architects and sculptors to work with us enabled us to renew forms and uses without breaking with the technical requirements that had made the factory's reputation. The workshops develop new glazes, refine colors and experiment with sculptural forms, giving rise to works where tradition and creation are in close dialogue.
The manufacture also retains a museum role, thanks to a heritage made up of models, molds, archives and historical pieces that enable us to understand the evolution of production since the XVIIIᵉ century. This continuity contributes to the reputation of Sèvres as an institution where the perennity of the manual gesture is combined with a constant exploration of the possibilities of porcelain.
Today, the Manufacture de Sèvres remains a symbol of French savoir-faire. Its workshops perpetuate a tradition of firing, decorating and modeling whose precision is internationally recognized. The hard porcelain creations, sculptural pieces and decorative objects produced at Sèvres bear witness to a mastery of craftsmanship and artistic research that has lasted for almost three centuries.
