Sevres porcelain manufactory (FR. Manufacture nationale de Sevres)
In 1738, almost 30 years after the production of the first European porcelain in Meissen, a successful attempt was made in French Vincennes to create porcelain from soft paste. This year, the Marquis Orri de Fulvy received a license from King Louis XV to manufacture porcelain. From the very beginning, the factory operated as the "Manufactory Royal". In 1751 the Marquis Orri de Fulvi died and the king received 25 percent of the factory. Early French porcelain imitated Meissen works.
In 1740, porcelain production began in Vincennes with the support of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour. In 1756, the factory was transferred to Sevres, not far from the Bellevue Palace, where Madame de Pompadour lived. It became a royal manufactory since 1759.
In 1772, the production of hard paster china began. The company had serious problems after the French Revolution (1789). The porcelain made in Sèvres was destined for the aristocracy and royal families. Unfortunately for production, the revolution ended the monarchy in France. Finally, in 1798, the company was overtaken by the French government. The government appointed Alexander Brongniart to run the business. Under his leadership, the company managed to serve a new group of wealthy clients.
Until 1780, the factory was granted a monopoly on multi-color porcelain painting.
The company continued to thrive during the Napoleonic era and the rest of the 19th century.
Porcelain made in Sèvres is most often marked with two intertwined letters "Ls" in blue paint. The national manufactory Sevres is still one of the leading European porcelain manufactories.