Sèvres Service from the Branicki Family Collection

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to identify, analyse, and systematise French porcelain pieces from the Branicki family collection, currently housed in the Khanenko Museum’s holdings. The key aspect of the study is examining the processes influenced by the activities of museum organisations in Ukraine, particularly the State Museum Fund, following the revolutionary events of 1917. The research methodology is based on the application of historical-cultural, comparative, and source studies methods. The historical-cultural method allowed for an analysis of the artistic value of the Sèvres service from the Branicki collection within the context of the European artistic tradition of the 18th–19th centuries. The comparative method was used to establish analogies between pieces from the Sèvres manufactory preserved in museums across Ukraine and Europe. The source studies method facilitated the systematisation and classification of archival documents, museum descriptions, and inventory records, enabling the reconstruction of the service’s relocation history after 1917. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the complete analysis of Sèvres manufactory items once owned by the Branicki family. Based on archival materials, museum inventory records, and an art-historical examination of the exhibits artistic features, the provenance of the service items has been established. For the first time, the relocation route of these works after 1917, as well as their presence in museum exhibitions, has been traced. This publication contributes to the overall understanding of the history of aristocratic art collections in Ukraine during periods of social transformation. Conclusions. The study confirms that the French porcelain from the Branicki collection is a significant artistic heritage assemble, belonging to the broader European cultural legacy. The collection’s movement after 1917 reflects the general trends of private collection redistribution during the Soviet era, leading to the loss of a substantial part of the exhibits. Establishing the provenance and attribution of specific pieces is an essential step in the study, preservation, and promotion of museum collections in Ukraine.