An Analysis of Scientific Research on Chinese Porcelain at the Sèvres Manufactory in the Mid-19th Century—Centering on the Series of Papers by Ébelmen and Salvétat

In the early 18th century, two letters written by Père Francois Xavier d’Entrecolles provided the West with valuable insights into Chinese porcelain-making techniques. For more than a century thereafter, scholarly research on Chinese porcelain remained stagnant, with no significant advancements. It was not until the mid-19th century that this situation underwent a substantive transformation. During this period French scholars Jacques-Joseph Ébelmen (1814–1852) and Louis-Alphonse Salvétat (1820–1882) at the Sèvres Manufactory conducted a series of scientific research on Chinese porcelain and published three academic papers. Their work represented a significant contribution by the French academic community to the scientific and objective understanding of Chinese porcelain. Building upon previous research, this study analyzes the historical background of this series of studies, summarizes the main content and research methods, and further explores its significance and limitations. By doing so, it aims to offer the academic community a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of this subject.