An Early 19th Century Creamware Bust of Louis XV of France

A rare early 19th century creamware bust of good scale, depicting King Louis XV of France, set upon a shaped rocaille socle, mounted with trophies of war.

Louis XV, known as Louis the Beloved (Louis le bien aimé), reigned as King of France from 1st September 1715. He was a member of the House of Bourbon who succeeded his great grandfather, Louis XIV at the age of five years. As such, Louis XV did not take up the reins of power until he reached maturity (the Kingdom of France was at this time ruled by Philippe d’Orléans, Duc d’Orléans, who acted as Regent).

Louis is best remembered for a number of decisions on the international stage which many historians perceive to have damaged France’s power. He returned the Austrian Netherlands (a territory won at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745) to Austria under the terms of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle of 1748. On the conclusion of the Seven Years War in 1763) he ceded New France in North America to Great Britain and Spain. However, Louis incorporated the territories of Lorraine and Corsica into the Kingdom of France. He was succeeded by his grandson Louis XVI in when he died on 10th May 1774.

This bust depicts Louis XV as the conquering hero, dressed in armour, surrounded by canon and trophies of war. Made from tin glazed pottery, it has a soft cream coloured surface in imitation of Chinese porcelain.