This severely neo-classical shape of Ewer and Basin was called the Pot à Eau et Jatte, nouvelle forme at Sèvres in the 1790s.  This one is exceptionally lavishly decorated with a very rare extent of simulated porphyry ground.

The flower painting is by Gilbert Drouet and the arabesques by François-Antoine Pfeiffer.  This piece can be identified in the artist’s overtime payment records in January 1795.

The only well-known piece of Sèvres of this period with this bold porphyry ground is a possibly unique sun-dial in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.