Limoges porcelain was born from a discovery: that of kaolin, at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, in 1768. This white clay, until then imported from China, finally made it possible to produce a hard, translucent, resonant porcelain in France. In less than a century, the city became the European capital of porcelain.
Haviland
Founded in 1842 by David Haviland, a New York merchant who settled in Limoges to supply the American market. The house introduced a break with tradition: rather than simply decorating blanks bought elsewhere, it controlled the entire chain, from the paste to the decoration. His son Théodore Haviland would go on to work with artists such as Félix Bracquemond and Suzanne Lalique. Haviland's marks varied considerably across periods and family branches, making them a valuable reference for dating a piece.
Bernardaud
Léonard Bernardaud, who joined the Delinières manufactory as an apprentice, became its partner and then its owner in 1900. Still family-owned today, the house is one of the few to have continued uninterrupted through the 20th century. It has collaborated with numerous contemporary artists while preserving its classic patterns.
Raynaud
Founded in 1911 by Martial Raynaud. The house distinguished itself through its refined decoration and silverwork mounts, particularly during the Art Deco period. It still supplies Michelin-starred restaurant tables today.
Recognising Limoges porcelain
The mark is found on the reverse of the piece. It usually states the name of the manufactory, sometimes "Limoges France", and may include a separate factory mark and decorator's mark — the former for the paste, the latter for the studio that painted the piece. Colours, shapes and inscriptions have evolved over the decades, which often allows a piece to be dated to within a few years.
Genuine Limoges porcelain is thin, translucent against the light, and produces a clear ring when lightly tapped.
Our selection
We systematically photograph the mark on the reverse of every piece we offer. For any question about a manufactory, dating or decoration, please do not hesitate to contact us.