The Dihl and Guérhard Manufactory or The Manufactory of the Duke d’Angoulême

The Dihl and Guérhard Manufactory is known as the “Duke of Angoulême’s Manufactory” because as of 1781 the duke of Angoulême was its sponsor. He entrusted the factory’s running to the partners Christophe Erasmus Dihl and Mr. and Mrs. Guérhard. Under the direction of these partners, as soon as the factory resumed production, it became the Sèvres Manufactory’s main rival in the final years of the 18^th century and during the reign of Napoleon. After the fall of the Ancien Régime the factory created new models, including unglazed groups and figures that were especially popular when they were mounted “en grandes pendules en beau biscuit”  (as beautiful bisque porcelain on fine clocks). Throughout its years of activity, the manufactory became known for the extraordinary quality of its models and particularly clocks, which were sought-after by the important Parisian connoisseurs of the time (Dictionnaire universel de la géographie commerçante, Tome V, p. 325; cited in R. de Plinval de Guillebon, Les biscuits de porcelaine de Paris XVIIIe-XIXe siècles, Editions Faton, Dijon, 2012, p. 199).