A Sèvres green-ground plate from a service given by Louis XVI to Joseph II of Austria, circa 1777Painted with a large floral spray in the well, the green-ground rim reserved with three oval panels enclosing further flower sprays surrounded by gilt ribbon-tied palm fronds and berried myrtle branches, gilt floral swags handing from gilt nailheads in between, 24.2cm diam., interlaced LL monogram enclosing date letter Z in purple, painter's mark for F.-M. Barrat (oncle) and gilder's mark for É.-H. Le Guay (l'aîné) and incised D (some wear)注脚The service was given as part of a diplomatic gift with other porcelain by Louis XVI to Joseph II of Austria, Holy Roman Emperor and elder brother of Marie-Antoinette. The Sèvres sale registers state: 'Presents faits par sa Majeste à L'Empereur Et Livré à Monseigneur de Vergenes le 30 Avril 1777' [Presents made by his Majesty to the Emperor delivered to Monseigneur de Vergenes on 30 April 1777]. The service was delivered to Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1774 and 1787, as an intermediary. For a full description and list of known pieces from the service, see David Peters, Sèvres Plates and Services of the 18th Century (2005), III, no. 77.6, p. 577ff.