Colour & Innovation – Sèvres Porcelain Collection

The circular Card Room of Goodwood House – so called after Edward VII as he loved playing cards there – contains a rare collection of Sèvres porcelain and is thought by Rosalind Savill, an authority on Sèvres and the former director of the Wallace Collection, to be one of the finest worldwide.

The Third Duke of Richmond visited Sèvres in 1765 on his Grand Tour, taking with him a book of illustrations of birds which he asked Sèvres to use on his china. This was the first time that illustrations drawn from nature were used on china rather than using rather whimsical, fantastical representations.

It was also the first time that an order was placed directly with the Sèvres factory and is unusual in that the collection uses two colours – the form at the time was to just have one hue.

See the porcelain collection along with a fine collection of French antique furniture at Goodwood House during one of their house tours run on a Sunday and Monday 1pm – 5pm until 15^th October 2012. Entry costs GBP9.50 for adults and GBP4.00 children aged 12-18. Children under twelve are admitted free. Student rates are GBP4.00 and there is a family ticket for two adults and two children for GBP22.00.

Afternoon tea is served between 2pm – 4.30pm with prices starting at GBP4.00.

To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Summer Exhibition for 2012, running from 6^th August – 15^th October, will look at Goodwood’s royal heritage and how it is represented in the art collection. From 5^th – 30^th August the house will be open Sunday – Thursday.

About Goodwood House: Set within magnificent grounds in the Sussex countryside, seven miles from the sea, is one of the truly spectacular English country estates. The seat of the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon for over three hundred years, Goodwood remains in the family while affording guests an opportunity to experience the historic architecture and interiors of the grand house and the opulent modern amenities, award-winning dining and a range of sporting activities from golf to world class vintage car and horse racing.

To enquire about holding events or weddings at Goodwood please telephone 01243 775 537 or email events@goodwood.com. For information on visitor opening times for Goodwood House and for more information on the Goodwood Estate, please call +44 (0) 1243 755 000 or visit www.goodwood.com

Contributer: Sue Lowry

Goodwood House is a client of Magellan PR.

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