Limoges in America

When collectors search antique malls and shops for Limoges porcelain in the states, they typically will find the American version of early types of Limoges, with Haviland being a the most typical name. This is probably because, status-conscious brides often chose Haviland dinnerware sets as their wedding china in the late Victorian period. Although the first Limoges China was produced in a specific area of France, David Haviland from the US, intent on producing the world's finest china, began working to obtain permission to build a state-of-the-art china factory in Francie as well. The French government issued the necessary permits to Haviland in 1853. Within two years, David Haviland's astute business sense and American ingenuity aided him in establishing one of the world's most advanced china producing facilities. Clever marketers for the Haviland Limoges company did research in the US noting the most popular colors, types and designs of dinnerware used in this country, which differed greatly from European preferences. From the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 1930's, Americans widely used Haviland Limoges dinnerware on the most elegant of tables. This accounts for so many sets that have been passed down from grandmothers and great-grandmothers to their extended families. Through the years in France, tradition dictated that blank forms blanks were to be produced in Limoges and then sent to the artist's guilds of Paris to be decorated. Haviland was the first of the Limoges china manufacturers to produce whiteware and then decorate these forms in the same factory. Although Haviland's system saved time and money, his behavior was considered radical. Many protests were staged in and around the Haviland factory. To protect themselves against the rioting artists and craftsmen of rival firms, Haviland's employees had to travel to the factory in groups. Some porcelain collectors solely concentrate on Haviland products and largely ignore other Limoges company names. Others focus on a broader range of Limoges items from a variety of manufacturers. They move away from the quaint dinnerware toward decorative accessories such as vases, trays and tankards generally featuring more vivid coloration and an abundance of decorative gold trim. When evaluating Limoges, Gaston says looking at the quality of the decoration can often be more important than determining the age. But since both are important, her book identifies numerous factory marks with dates of production as a good starting point for researching Limoges pieces. Not all factories could be listed, however. Some companies were in business for only a short time long ago and the business records no longer exist.

Tagged with: antique malls • extended families • s system • tradition • US

Filed under: Misc