The Leperre-Durot porcelain factory was founded in 1784 and shortly afterwards placed under the patronage of the three-year-old dauphin, the eldest son of the French king Louis XVI. The lid of this impressive piece is sur-mounted by the dauphin’s crown, and the handles are in the shape of dolphins (dauphin is French for ‘dolphin’). The crown prince’s coat of arms and monogram are incorporated in the decoration.