Limoges porcelain - hand-painted dishes

Back in the XVIII century there were secrets of making porcelain. They were carefully guarded. Now all secrets are known, craftsmen and designers change jobs in ceramic factories and plants and find only minor differences in production processes. How did Limoges porcelain come into being and why is it valued all over the world? How many manufacturers does he have today? We will try to answer these questions.

A bit of history

Such crafts, like glass and porcelain, gravitate to places where there is a natural raw material for their production. In France, such a center became and remained Limoges, where in 1770 deposits of kaolin, suitable for the manufacture of solid porcelain, were discovered. Only no one knew how to properly dispose of them and, in general, what it is. To use it, technology was needed. They were received thanks to the activities in China of a monk from the Jesuit order, who phased out the letters in the process of producing porcelain and sent samples of kaolin home. In 1771, the first Royal Manufactory for the production of porcelain was built, and sixty years later there were about sixteen. Later, about forty enterprises appeared. And they all produced Limoges porcelain. This concept and to date does not apply to any particular enterprise. There are several brands known around the world, as well as many large and small productions.

Brand Bernardaud

In 1863 the Bernardo family opened a small manufactory and began to produce Limoges porcelain. In a very short time, all the subtleties of production were mastered, and the white delicate porcelain of the family became a popular brand first in France and then all over the world. Table accessories are produced as dishes for home and for restaurants and hotels. To date, the design is characterized by extreme laconism. The main thing in it is the whiteness of the natural material, sparingly underlined by a drawing in which one or two colors are used. Typical modern products of this house are Limoges porcelain, the photograph of which is presented above. In this technology, there are secrets and tricks. One product can pass through the hands of 40 masters. And since this is such a complicated manual work, then the prices are very high. One dessert plate, covered on the board with gold with a coding, can cost 118 euros. What can I say about the service? Not on every table you can put luxury products from Bernardo. They require a certain interior. Porcelain of this brand stands on the tables of hotels Ritz, Carlton, Four Seasons.

Company "Hevilend"

It all started with a curious case. To Mr. Haviland in America turned the mistress of a broken saucer from Limoges porcelain. He managed to make a copy, and he was carried away by this painstaking and delicate work. The history of the enterprise began in 1842, when American businessman David Haviland, having moved to France, released the first batch of porcelain in Limoges. And in the American way, he started a new business. A large factory was built in fifty years, but the company did not lose ties with America. She made deliveries of exclusive dishes for the White House. So Limoges porcelain conquered the American market. But they were also interested in Europe's high-ranking people, since true craftsmen and famous artists were involved in the development of design: Chagall, Salvador Dali, Kandinsky.

House Hermes

The beginning has put release of a harness for horses, then high-quality products from a leather began to appear. The traditional occupation of this house was the manufacture of accessories that amaze with their quality and luxury. But the production of porcelain family started relatively recently, in 1984, and in the first collection, everything was immediately struck: both design and quality. It was an exceptional magnificence. And later the dishes became more laconic, but equally expressive. House Hermes all the time in search of new forms and design.

In addition to these manufacturers, the major include "Reynaud", "Dolaren", "Royal Limoges" and at least ten less well-known enterprises.

Who forges Limoges porcelain

Manufacturers in France believe that the lion's share of counterfeits falls on China and Tunisia. Check it out quite simply. On the original Limoges porcelain, the stamps are applied necessarily with green chrome. In the department of Upper Vienne, where the production of porcelain for various purposes is concentrated, to the standard brand with the inscription Limoges France each manufacturer adds its initials or symbol. On the fake stamp is not applied. Thus, it is enough to turn the plate, vase or casket, and everything will be clear. Producers of porcelain from Limoges had to prove through the court their rights to the fact that Limoges should be called porcelain, which is produced here.

With antiques is somewhat more complicated. There was not a single color, not a single stamp. For example, the Haviland family put such markings: GDA, H & CO / L, H & CO / Depose and Porcelaine. Also, the marking of other manufactories also changed many times.

Handmade

Most of all I want to buy Limoges porcelain with hand painted. After all, the products are amazingly beautiful. Manual work differs sharply from that made with the help of stencils, stamps, decals, silkscreen and other technical means. Each such drawing is carefully written out with a brush. It is the traces of her smears that distinguish handwork. Each touch of the brush leaves a certain type of smear on the porcelain. But sometimes artists paint a picture with a sponge or a pen, that is, the creator does not always follow the same technique. Even with the repetition of the drawing, there will still be differences, since it is a living person, not a machine. And one more subtlety. The color of the paint depends on how much it will be picked up by the master on the brush. Too much - and the paint will boil when roasting. After all, it is produced at a temperature of 1400 degrees. And if it's not enough - the picture will not be bright enough, the colors will just burn out. All this is familiar to the masters of the highest qualification, who apply a drawing to Limoges porcelain with hand painted. Where do they produce it? In the department of Upper Vienne.

What is included in the range of products

This is a mass of useful and beautiful objects and gizmos. These include tea and coffee couples, sets for different numbers of people, bonbonniere, caskets, sculptures. Limoges porcelain is the pride of France. It spreads all over the world. You can buy it in our country.