On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Set of Twelve Cups and Saucers (tasses litrons)
Manufactory Sèvres Manufactory French
Not on view
The Mysore embassy visited the impressive Sèvres porcelain factory in 1788 and received dozens of custom pieces as gifts, including this set of cups and saucers painted in different floral patterns. (Certain other designs, including porcelain spittoons and hookahs, do not survive.) Sèvres made sure the decoration was culturally sensitive; notes in the archives stipulate that the sultan be given wares "with flowers," in keeping with the Islamic prohibition against human images.
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