French, early 19th century, a fine porcelain partial service designed byÿPierre-Louis Dagoty (1771-1840), elegantly decorated with a frieze of burnished gilt winged lions, arabesques, masks, and antique vases, contrasting on an enamel decorated blood-orange border, reminiscent of Egyptian decoration, the center field decorated with burnished gilt designs of continuous intertwining grape vines, comprising 18 luncheon plates, two covered square shaped vegetable dishes, four reticulated fruit baskets on pedestals, three compotes, medium round platter, large round platter, oval underplate, tureen, 11-1/4 x 15-1/4 in.; 18 pieces stenciled in iron red "MANUFACTURE. / de S M. l'Imp‚ratrice / P.L. DAGOTY / A PARIS" to basesNote:ÿThe Dagoty Manufactory, named porcelain manufacturer to the Empress Jos‚phine, quickly became one of the most prominent and successful industries during the golden age of porcelain production in Paris. Dagoty?s designs were influenced by Neoclassical, Chinoiserie, and Egyptian motifs and were distinguished by the use of burnished gold leaf and bold colors. His fashionable wares with rich ornamentation were quintessential of the Empire, and were heavily endorsed by the patronage of Empress Jos‚phine. Lavish porcelain wares were provided to the Empress and the Royal French Court at Versailles.A gouache and pencil sketch of this porcelain service design is housed in the V&A Museum in Paris, France. Museum no. 3235:14 http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O250963/design-dagoty-porcelain-factory/ÿÿÿÿ, Provenance: Arpad Antiques, Inc. Washington, DC; Collection from an Important American Family gilt loss to varying degrees throughout with some areas of retouch, some enamel loss, one luncheon plate with spider crack, scattered minor chips to bases and rims, one square covered vegetable dish with repaired finial, one square covered vegetable dish with possible repair to corner (some discoloration), one square vegetable dish with spider crack, small scattered firing cracks to compotes and reticulated baskets, bases to compotes and reticulated baskets sealed with plaster (probably as made), tureen with some small chips to base, underplate with firing anomaly to underside, other scattered firing anomalies and pinholes, other surface wear and abrasions consistent with age and use