Limoges porcelain
Encyclopedia
Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain
produced by factories near the city of Limoges
, France
beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.
production in the 12th century, and Limoges enamel
was known as Opus de Limogia or Labor Limogiae.
Limoges had also been the site of a minor industry producing plain faience
earthenwares since the 1730s.
The manufacturing of hard-paste porcelain
at Limoges was established by Turgot
in 1771 following the discovery of local supplies of kaolin and a material similar to petuntse
in the economically distressed area at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
, near Limoges. The materials, which were quarried beginning in 1768, were used to produce hard-paste porcelain similar to Chinese porcelain
.
The manufactory at Limoges was placed under the patronage of the comte d'Artois
, brother of Louis XVI
, and was later purchased by the King in 1784, apparently with the idea of producing hard-paste bodies for decoration at Sèvres, although this never happened.
After the French Revolution
a number of private factories were established at Limoges, including Bernardaud and Haviland & Co.
Hard-paste porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain is a ceramic material that was originally made from a compound of the feldspathic rock petuntse and kaolin fired at very high temperature. It was first made in China around the 9th century....
produced by factories near the city of Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.
History
Limoges had strong antecedents in the production of decorative objects. The city was the most famous European centre of vitreous enamelVitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
production in the 12th century, and Limoges enamel
Limoges enamel
Limoges enamel was produced at Limoges, France, already the most famous, but not the most high quality, European center of vitreous enamel production by the 12th century; its works were known as Opus de Limogia or Labor Limogiae...
was known as Opus de Limogia or Labor Limogiae.
Limoges had also been the site of a minor industry producing plain faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
earthenwares since the 1730s.
The manufacturing of hard-paste porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain
Hard-paste porcelain is a ceramic material that was originally made from a compound of the feldspathic rock petuntse and kaolin fired at very high temperature. It was first made in China around the 9th century....
at Limoges was established by Turgot
Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune
Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune , often referred to as Turgot, was a French economist and statesman. Turgot was a student of Francois Quesnay and as such belonged to the Physiocratic school of economic thought...
in 1771 following the discovery of local supplies of kaolin and a material similar to petuntse
Petuntse
Petuntse , also spelled petunse, is a historic term for a wide range of micaceous or feldspathic rocks. However, all will have been subject to geological decomposition processes that result in a material which, after processing, is suitable as an ingredient in some ceramic formulations...
in the economically distressed area at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.Its name refers to Saint Yrieix .Inhabitants are known as Arédiens.-References:*...
, near Limoges. The materials, which were quarried beginning in 1768, were used to produce hard-paste porcelain similar to Chinese porcelain
Chinese porcelain
Chinese ceramic ware shows a continuous development since the pre-dynastic periods, and is one of the most significant forms of Chinese art. China is richly endowed with the raw materials needed for making ceramics. The first types of ceramics were made during the Palaeolithic era...
.
The manufactory at Limoges was placed under the patronage of the comte d'Artois
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
, brother of Louis XVI
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
, and was later purchased by the King in 1784, apparently with the idea of producing hard-paste bodies for decoration at Sèvres, although this never happened.
After the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
a number of private factories were established at Limoges, including Bernardaud and Haviland & Co.
Haviland & Co.
Haviland & Co. is a manufacturer of Limoges porcelain.-History:David Haviland was an American businessman from New York dealing with porcelain. While seeking out new business interests, he arrived in Limoges, France and by 1842, he was able to send his first shipment of Limoges porcelain to the...