Dihl and Guerhard Porcelain Tea Cup and Saucer - 19th Century

Porcelain tea cup with saucer from the prestigious Parisian manufactory Dihl et Guérhard, under the patronage of the Duke of Angoulême. This piece represents the technical excellence of French ceramics from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, rivaling Sèvres in quality.

History of the Object: Founded in 1781 by Christophe Dihl and Antoine Guérhard, the factory distinguished itself through chemical innovations in pigments and glazes. Under the protection of Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, the firm produced porcelain that defined the taste of the Parisian aristocracy during the Neoclassical and Empire periods.

Details and Condition:
- Period: Circa 1790-1810
- Technique: Hand-painted porcelain with floral reserves and mercury gilding.
- Dimensions: Cup height: 6 cm (2.36 inches). Total weight: 200 g (0.44 lbs).
- Material: Hard-paste porcelain and gold.
- Condition: Excellent preservation for its age. The polychromy remains vibrant, and the gilding shows minimal wear consistent with the period. No visible restorations or cracks.

Collection Value: A highly desirable piece for collectors of Paris porcelain and scholars of 19th-century decorative arts, notable for its factory mark and the use of the iconic bleu céleste color.