In 1738, almost 30 years after first European porcelain was produced in Meissen, the successful attempt to create soft paste porcelain was undertaken in French Vincennes. This year Marquis Orry de Fulvy obtained from the king Louis XV a licence to manufacture porcelain. The factory from the very beginning operated as the "Manufacture royale". In 1751 Marquis Orry de Fulvy died and the king obtained 25 percent of the factory. Early French porcelain imitated Meissen pieces.
In 1756 the factory was moved to the village of Sèvres and gained its own unique style. In 1759 Louis XV took over the entire Sèvres porcelain factory. Until 1780 the factory was granted a monopoly of multicolor painting of porcelain.
In 1772 the production of hard paste porcelain started. The company was in serious troubles after the French Revolution (1789). The porcelain made in Sèvres was meant for aristocracy and royal families. Unfortunately for the manufacture, the revolution ended the monarchy in France. Finally in 1798 the company was overtaken by the French government. The government appointed Alexander Brongniart to run a business. Under his administration the company managed to cater to a new group of wealthy clients.
The company continued to thrive through the Napoleonic era and in the rest of 19th century.
The porcelain made in Sèvres is most often marked with two blue-painted interlaced letters 'Ls'. The manufacture nationale de Sèvres is still one of the principal European porcelain manufactories.
Dating 18th century Sèvres porcelain
| Letters | Year | Example |
| A | 1754 |  |
| B | 1755 | |
| C | 1756 | |
| D | 1757 |  |
| E | 1758 | |
| F | 1759 |  |
| G | 1760 | |
| H | 1761 | |
| I, J | 1762 |  |
| K | 1763 |  |
| L | 1764 |  |
| M | 1765 | |
| N | 1766 |  |
| O | 1767 | |
| P | 1768 | |
| Q | 1769 | |
| R | 1770 |  |
| S | 1771 |  |
| T | 1772 | |
| U | 1773 |  |
| V | 1774 | |
| X | 1775 | |
| Y | 1776 | |
| Z | 1777 | |
| AA | 1778 | |
| BB | 1779 | |
| CC | 1780 |  |
| DD | 1781 | |
| EE | 1782 | |
| FF | 1783 |  |
| GG | 1784 | |
| HH | 1785 | |
| II, JJ | 1786 | |
| KK | 1787 | |
| LL | 1788 | |
| MM | 1789 |  |
| NN | 1790 | |
| OO | 1791 | |
| PP | 1792 | |
| 1793 |
