Sevres Extraordinaire!: Sculpture from 1740 Until Today

By Tamara Preaud

A comprehensive, in-depth examination of nearly three centuries of sculptural production from France's famous S vres Porcelain Manufactory

S vres Extraordinaire brings to light the production of sculpture at S vres over the 280 years of the institution's existence--from the first attempts at soft-paste porcelain to the revolutionary decision to skip the glaze application, producing a matte white evocative of marble. Other new techniques followed, emulating classic sculptural materials such as bronze and gold. These processes set S vres apart and ensured its long-standing success with the medium. This book offers an overview of the artists, artisans, and patrons who converged over the years at S vres, and whose ideas represent a microcosm of larger developments in art and culture. Considering the term "sculpture" in its broadest sense, it features vases, dining-table centerpieces, clocks, inkstands, and rare cups and saucers alongside objects such as busts, figures, and medallions. The history is told through material, much of which has never been illustrated, that includes drawings, plaster molds, and terracotta models housed in the archives of the S vres Manufactory and in the Mus es nationaux, as well as finished sculptures designed by artists including tienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), Fran ois Boucher (1703-1770), Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824-1887), Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010), and Giuseppe Penone (b. 1947).

Distributed for Bard Graduate Center

Exhibition Schedule:

Bard Graduate Center, New York
(September 20, 2024-January 5, 2025 and September 10-November 16, 2025 )

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300278756
• ISBN13: 9780300278750
• Release Date: November 2024
• Publisher: Bard Graduate Center
• Length: 557 Pages
• Weight: 7.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 9.9" x 11.6"