The cup, which has a flared mouth and splayed foot, is fitted with a collar of white beads. The gilded handle, which forms a loop, is in the form of a snake, its head pointing downwards. The cup and saucer are glazed on the underside. The gilding, reminiscent of Egyptian decoration, incorporates slender plants emerging out of rosettes, which alternate with stylised triangular ferns issuing out of reversed bell shapes. In addition, the frieze is formed by a band of pointed tubular leaves and berries linked to each other in pairs by a thread. The Dagoty manufactory, which became one of the most fashionable and successful during the Empire, was founded in 1800 by Pierre-Louis Dagoty (1771-1840) and his two brothers when they acquired a nine-year lease of a largely moribund manufactory in the rue de Chevreuse. Dagoty’s business thrived. Named porcelain manufacturer to the Empress Joséphine, he was supported by her in his successful bid in 1807 to obtain a loan of 80,000 francs from the government in order to offset the harm the war was doing to his foreign trade, notably with Russia. Text adapted from French Porcelain: In the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen, London 2009