19th century Limoges Porcelain - [Musée national Adrien Dubouché]

XVIIIth century Limoges Porcelain

XIXth century Limoges Porcelain

XXth century Limoges Porcelain

Limoges Porcelain in the 19th Century


	Table-centre from the Céres riche table service, designed by Paul Commoléra for the Pouyat factory, Limoges 1855. Service awarded gold medal at that year’s Universal Exhibition.

First Half of the 19th Century: Laying Foundations

In the years following the French revolution, production began again and numerous porcelain factories were founded in and around Limoges. Industrial growth was rapid, from fifteen factories in 1827 to over thirty by 1850. Unravelling the fortunes of these firms is complex, since factories prospered or declined as political and economic conditions fluctuated.

Certain factories however left their mark, for example Baignol, Pierre Tharaud, François Alluaud and Comte de Bonneval. Porcelain produced was mainly tableware but from 1830 under the influence of Parisian bronzeworkers Aaron & Valin, this broadened to include artistic and decorative pieces.


Haviland Factory.

Second Half of the 19th Century; The Golden Age of Limoges Porcelain

A major factor in stimulating Limoges factories was the emulation and example set by universal exhibitions throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Indeed, from 1851 Limoges works were marked as such by their makers in order to gain recognition from the thousands of visitors who frequented these exhibitions. Technical quality and know-how of Limoges porcelain makers began to establish itself, particularly as firms rivalled each other to obtain a perfect blanc de Limoges, as a means to demonstrate their use of pure white kaolin clays as well as their mastery of production and form. Typical examples of work from this period include pieces made by the Pouyat factory. An undoubted masterpiece is the rice grain table service they produced for display at the 1878 exposition universelle. It was designed by Albert Dammouse, a celebrated Parisian artist and employed an impressive "cloisonné" technique that involved creating compartments in the porcelain surface which were then filled with a transparent enamel glaze.

Porcelain manufacturing during the last quarter of the century was dominated by the Haviland factory. Felix Bracquemond, who was artistic director of a research workshop set up by Charles Edward Haviland at Auteuil in Paris, introduced Japonaiserie (Japanese-influenced) decorations to the factory in Limoges and through Haviland outlets established in America, the firm opened up a vast market across the USA for porcelain ware from Limoges. Limoges was not only famous for its pure white porcelain but also for having developed a high-temperature firing process that enabled use of elegant and subtle colours.