Floral Soup Plate

Limoges porcelain is a hard-paste porcelain produced by factories in and around the city of Limoges, France. The area was first settled by the Romans, who established a town called Limoges. The town flourished during the Middle Ages, thanks to its position on the trade routes between Europe and the Mediterranean. By the end of 1700s, Limoges had developed into a major center of the porcelain industry, producing ornate tableware for nobility and royalty across Europe.

Today, Limoges maintains the position its established in the 19th century as a leading centre of porcelain manufacturing in France and its porcelain is still prized by collectors for its beauty and craftsmanship.

A brief story of porcelain

The first Europeans to bring porcelain making to Europe during the Middle Ages were the Venetians and Portuguese. It’s at that time that Chinese porcelain production started to influence European style for centuries. The most important ingredient to making porcelain is Kaolin, which is a white clay that is a silicate of aluminum found in China, Germany and Limoges. For years Europeans used a soft fake substance for porcelain, until Kaolin was discovered in Germany in the early 17th century and the secret to Chinese porcelain was finally disclosed throughout Europe. It was in the second half of the 18th century that Kaolin was discovered in Limoges, France. It is shortly after that time that the first porcelain factory was established in France.

Did you know it?

Queen of France Marie Antoinette collected Limoges porcelain obsessively, commissioning pieces in her own likeness as well as elaborate sets for her private chambers.

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This item is vintage and could have some little imperfections, which are marks of its previous life. When you choose to buy vintage you’re doing good for the planet, as you are making use of available resources, ensuring less waste. By choosing vintage, you are honouring the history behind an object, and helping to build a less disposable consumer culture 🌴