French royal splendor has arrived in the Crescent City. The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) invites visitors to step into the glittering world of 18th-century Versailles with Sèvres Magnifique: French Porcelain from the Collection of Thomas B. Lemann, on view now through January 3, 2027.
For nearly 300 years, the royal porcelain factory at Sèvres, just outside Paris, has set the standard for fine ceramics — and this exhibition celebrates a remarkable bequest from New Orleans collector Thomas B. Lemann. Working with the finest dealers in Paris, London, and New York for more than three decades, Lemann gathered over 100 exquisite pieces of early French soft-paste porcelain, crafted between 1758 and 1766.
Vases, tea sets, plates, and bowls — each piece tells a story of opulence, chemistry, and artistry, with luscious glazes and gilding that once dazzled the French court of Louis XV. Created when France’s royal factory competed with Germany’s famed Meissen, these treasures showcase the finest decorators of the Rococo era.
Curated by NOMA’s RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts & Design, Mel Buchanan, and supported by The Azby Fund and the Elise M. Besthoff Charitable Foundation, Sèvres Magnifique is a rare chance to see world-class porcelain without leaving Louisiana. Don’t miss this jewel of French craftsmanship in the heart of City Park.
Photo: New Orleans Museum of Art
