Burgos Sarreguemines glazed earthenware coffee cup and saucer

An extremely rare collector's item, this cup and saucer in fine lustre earthenware from Sarreguemines dates from between 1810 and 1830. A similar example is kept at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In 1823 at the World Exhibition of French Industry, the French earthenware factory Sarreguemines with its new decoration techniques, at the initiative of Paul Utzschneider who directed the factory, was rewarded with a silver medal for its production of pottery decorated with metallic lustres. To obtain the burgos, a name derived from a shell, the burgau, pink in color, inspired by the English "moonlight", droplets of essence were dispersed on a gold lustre. Hollow mark of the factory under the saucer and under the plate. Lustre in the center of the saucer slightly tarnished.