The most important French porcelain factory was founded in about 1740 in the royal château of Vincennes, with workmen lured from the nearby factory at Chantilly. By 1756 Vincennes had outgrown its workshops in the old château and the factory transferred to specially constructed premises at Sèvres. The Royal Manufactory specialised in exceptionally luxurious objects, many destined for the French court. Capable of startling innovation, the factory produced a constantly evolving repertoire to suit the changing tastes of its clients. Sèvres porcelain was admired and collected by the royal, noble and wealthy elite throughout Europe, and was also widely imitated.

Not many candlesticks in Sèvres porcelain have survived and these are consequently rare objects, made at the most prestigious French porcelain factory, owned by the king. They have been modelled as miniature barley-sugar twist columns and decorated in a light and feminine style with spiralling garlands of flowers. Similar items appear in contemporary paintings and prints showing wealthy noblewomen in their boudoirs. It is easy to imagine these candlesticks, sitting on the dressing table of one such lady, flanking a mirror and matching an array of porcelain pots containing different types of make-up. Candlesticks called bougoirs de toilette appear in the Sèvres factory records in 1774 and may denote candlesticks of this shape. For a blue ground pair see 798 & A-1882, and another decorated with turquoise ground ribbons and colourful flowers is in the Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor (National Trust).