Explore the history of ceramics production and design in one of its most important centres
Travel with porcelain expert Lars Tharp
Visit fascinating collections of beautiful ceramics in and around Paris
“We couldn’t have had a better guide – informative, interesting and witty”
- ACE customer on a previous tour with Lars Tharp
Porcelain has always been a highly sought-after art form and a prized commodity. When Johann Friedrich Böttger created the recipe for producing hard-paste porcelain in the early 18th century, what had once been a rare and fragile import from China became more widely available in Europe, as production began in earnest in Germany, but quickly thereafter in France as well.
It was at Sèvres that a distinctive style of French porcelain was developed, with the factory becoming well known for its early ‘bleu lapis’ and ‘bleu céleste’ colours. Royal patronage cemented Sèvres’ reputation, and today a visit to the museum and manufactory provides fascinating insights into the processes involved as well as new innovations.
This new tour will explore the history of ceramics in and around Paris, with visits not only to Sèvres but also to the Palace of Versailles, where the Porcelain Room in the King’s Private Apartments has recently been restored to display the collections from the Vincennes and Sèvres royal manufactories to outstanding effect.
This tour will be led by ceramics specialist Lars Tharp, MA, FSA, Hon DLitt, an art historian, lecturer and broadcaster who has worked on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow as well as Hidden Treasures and Art of the Baroque. A former Director of the Foundling Museum, Lars has also been involved in exhibitions at York Art Gallery, and his publications include Hogarth’s China. Lars has run several popular ACE tours exploring the history of ceramics in other locations such as Dresden.
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Full details, including the dates, itinerary and cost, will be released later in 2023. Please click here to register your interest.
Included: Full details, including the tour dates, itinerary and cost, will be released later in 2023. Please contact the ACE office now to register your interest.
Not Included:
