The date of conception of this shape, the epitome of the Louis XV style, by Jean-Claude Duplessis père is known by a letter from Hendrick van Hulst to Boileau, 26 October 1751: "...je n'ai nulle idée de la forme que le petit croquis indique des pots la romaine de M. du Plessis...". In the list of molds contained in the stock list of October 1752, the molds for this shape were valued at 10 livres-- a very high price. Ewers and basins in biscuit were valued at 27 livres and decorated they sold for prices ranging from 144 to 480 livres.

The ormolu handle may well have been commissioned from a bronzier by Philippe-Claude Maëlrondt, the dealer responsible for mounting several pieces in the British Royal Collection. Compare Geoffrey de Bellaigue, French Porcelain in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, 2009, vol. I, cat. no. 20 and vol. II, cat. no. 127, the latter featuring an ewer mounted with very similar handles to form a vase.

For other examples, compare S. Eriksen and G. De Bellaigue, Sèvres Porcelain, London, 1987, pp. 284-5, no. 98 and Vincennes & Sevres Porcelain from a New England Collection; Christie's, New York, 5 May 1999, lot 9. See also the hard-paste example with its cover from the same collection as the present example, sold Christie's, New York, 24 October 2012, lot 156 accompanied by a similarly decorated basin in soft paste porcelain.

Edmé-François Bouillat is recorded at the factory 1758-1810 as a painter specializing in flowers and birds.