Tobacco Leaf and Pseudo/Feuille de Tabac et Pseudo. A Tentative Inventory/Tentative d’inventaire

“Tobacco Leaf” and “Pseudo Tobacco Leaf” constitute a family of motifs that were created in China and, starting in 1765, were used for a century to decorate porcelains destined for export to Europe (mainly Portugal and probably England) and Brazil.

The total number of Tobacco Leaf and Pseudo motifs in existence is unknown. This study, the only one on this subject currently in existence, looks at 38 of these motifs (10 Tobacco Leaf and Pseudo) as well as 21 variations on them (12 Tobacco Leaf and 9 Pseudo). After describing the various elements that make up the different families of motifs, the motifs themselves are then studied one by one with the aid of the 400 color photographs that illustrate the the work. To make the identification easier, the author uses a system of letters and numbers to denote the different patterns. This book, bilingual in English and French, is published by the Société des Amis du musée national de Céramique. The preface is by David Howard and the introduction by Eric Moinet, Director of the Sèvres Ceramics Museum, Cité de la céramique Sèvres & Limoges.