Christine Germain-Donnat, Director of the Department of Heritage and Collections for the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory, is the featured speaker for our seventh Design by Hand series. Founded in 1740 at Vincennes under the patronage of Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour, the factory moved to Sèvres in 1756 where it has remained as the preeminent producer of French porcelain. Ms. Germain-Donnat will discuss the history of the manufactory, its innovations in craft and materials, as well as the diversity of the exquisite designs and decorations created by leading artists and designers of the day. Extraordinary Sèvres porcelain works are in major museum collections around the world, including Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, the V&A, and the Hermitage Museum.

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Launched in partnership with Van Cleef & Arpels in fall 2013, the Design by Hand series focuses on the craftsmanship, innovations, and merits of contemporary global designers. Special programs connect university students, high school students, adults, and families with design.