In autumn 2024, two plates from Napoleon's 'service particulier de l'Empereur' were offered at Christie's Paris but failed to sell at auction. The Musée national de Céramique in Sèvres subsequently negotiated the purchase of one plate privately after the sale, with support from the Fonds du Patrimoine. The plate, dated 1811 and painted by Jean-François Robert, depicts the former Sèvres manufactory buildings and is a significant addition to the museum's collection.
This acquisition matters because it enriches France's public collections with a rare piece of imperial porcelain that directly illustrates the history of the Sèvres manufactory itself. The plate's imagery—showing the pre-1881 manufactory site—offers both artistic and documentary value, linking Napoleonic-era craftsmanship to the institution's own heritage. The successful post-auction negotiation also highlights how museums can strategically acquire important works that fail to meet auction estimates.