拍品专文
Joseph II, Emperor of Austria and brother of Marie-Antoinette, traveled to France in 1777, arriving on 19 April with the aim of offering marital instruction to his sister and brother-in-law, Louis XVI: seven years after their wedding, France's new king and queen had yet to produce an heir apparent. Joseph II embarked under the pseudonym 'Comte de Falkenstein', hoping that it would allow him greater freedom of movement while in Paris. At Versailles, Marie-Antoinette reserved rooms for him just above her own cabinets, and he imparted much advice to the couple.
Soon after the emperor's arrival at Versailles on 30 April 1777, Louis XVI arranged for a gift of a large green-ground dinner service to be delivered to him with Charles Gavier, comte de Vergennes and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Count Mercy d’Argenteau, French ambassador to Vienna, serving as intermediaries. Although the service included 120 plates costing 36 livres each, it only included one punch bowl and mortar, which incurred the substantial price of 900 livres, making them together the most expensive component of the service. Seventeen additional pieces from this service are being offered together as one lot in the present Rothschild auction series.
Soon after the emperor's arrival at Versailles on 30 April 1777, Louis XVI arranged for a gift of a large green-ground dinner service to be delivered to him with Charles Gavier, comte de Vergennes and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Count Mercy d’Argenteau, French ambassador to Vienna, serving as intermediaries. Although the service included 120 plates costing 36 livres each, it only included one punch bowl and mortar, which incurred the substantial price of 900 livres, making them together the most expensive component of the service. Seventeen additional pieces from this service are being offered together as one lot in the present Rothschild auction series.