History of the Ceramic Art: A Descriptive and Philosophical Study of the Pottery of All Ages and All Nations: France: Sèvres- Soft Porcelain- Vase, Commemorative of the Battle of Fontenoy (Plate XI)

This etching by Jules Jacquemart documents a commemorative porcelain vase from the Sèvres manufactory, one of France's most prestigious ceramic workshops. The work exemplifies the 18th century practice of creating luxury soft paste porcelain vessels to celebrate significant historical events, in this case the French military victory at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. As part of Jacquemart's comprehensive study of ceramic history, the etching serves both as a documentary record of French decorative arts achievement and as evidence of how porcelain was instrumentalized to commemorate national glory.