Trianon de Porcelaine

The new structure comprised five wood-framed pavilions decorated with blue and white ceramic tiles, in what was considered to be a Chinese style, emulating accounts that had been received of the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing.

In the absence of a European source of true porcelain, the tiles were made of faience (tin-glazed earthenware) produced by potteries in the Netherlands (Delftware) and France, mostly decorated with blue glazes but also including some with green or yellow.

A south facing slope was planted with fragrant orange trees, which were protected by temporary greenhouses in the winter, overlooking the north end of the Grand Canal, which had been constructed between 1668 and 1671.

One of the main purposes of the new structure was to allow the king and his guests to enjoy the sight and perfume of the flower displays in the garden, and for that reason it was sometimes known as the "pavillon de Flore".

Few traces of the Trianon de Porcelaine survive, save for the layout of its garden, some vases, some painted wall panels, and some furniture attributed to the cabinetmaker Pierre Gole, including a writing table held by the Getty Museum.