Back in the 18th century, there were secrets of porcelain manufacturing. They were carefully guarded. Now all the secrets are known, craftsmen and designers change jobs in ceramic factories and factories and find only minor differences in the production processes. How did Limoges porcelain appear and why is it valued all over the world? How many manufacturers do he have today? We will try to answer these questions.
A bit of history
Crafts such as glass and porcelain gravitate to places where there is natural raw material for their production. In France, Limoges became and remains such a center, where in 1770 deposits of kaolin suitable for the manufacture of solid porcelain were discovered. Only no one knew how to properly dispose of it 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 gradually described the process of porcelain production in letters and sent samples of kaolin to their homeland. In 1771, the first Royal Porcelain Manufactory was built, and after sixty years there were about sixteen of them. Later, about forty enterprises appeared. And they all produced Limoges china.
This concept and today does not apply to any particular enterprise. There are several brands known around the world, as well as many large and small industries.
Brand Bernardaud
In 1863, the Bernardo family opened a small manufactory and began to produce Limoges porcelain. In the shortest time, all the intricacies of production were mastered, and the white thin porcelain of the family became a popular brand, first in France and then around the world. Cutlery is available as tableware for the home and for restaurants and hotels. Today, the design is characterized by extreme brevity. The main thing in it is the whiteness of natural material, sparingly emphasized by a pattern in which one or two colors are used.
Typical modern products of this house are Limoges porcelain, the photograph of which is presented above. At the same time, technology has its own secrets and tricks. One product can pass through the hands of 40 craftsmen. And since this is such complex manual work, then the prices are very high. One dessert plate, covered on board with gold with a number, can cost 118 euros. What can we 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 the Ritz, Carlton, Four Seasons hotels.
Heviland Company
It all started with a curious incident. The mistress of a broken saucer from Limoges porcelain turned to Mr. Heviland in America. 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 the American entrepreneur David Haviland, having moved to France, produced the first batch of porcelain in Limoges. And in an American launched a new business. A large plant was built in fifty years, but the company did not lose ties with America.
She made supplies of exclusive dishes for the White House. So Limoges porcelain conquered the American market. But he was also interested in high-ranking persons of Europe, since true masters of their craft and famous artists: Chagall, Salvador Dali, Kandinsky, were involved in the development of design.
Hermes House
The start was made by the release of a harness for horses, then high-quality leather goods began to appear. The traditional occupation of this house has been the manufacture of accessories that amaze with their quality and luxury. But the family started production of porcelain relatively recently, in 1984, and everything was immediately struck in the first collection: design and quality. It was an exceptional splendor. And later, the dishes became more concise, but equally expressive. Hermes House is always on the lookout for new shapes and designs.
In addition to these manufacturers, Reynaud, Dolaren, Royal Limoges and at least ten not so well-known enterprises are classified as large.
Who fakes Limoges porcelain
Manufacturers in France believe that the lion's share of fakes are in China and Tunisia. Check this out quite simply. The original Limoges porcelain stigma is applied with green chrome.
In the Haute Vienna department, where the production of porcelain for various purposes is concentrated, each manufacturer adds his initials or symbol to the standard brand with the words Limoges France. The stamp is not applied to fakes. Thus, it is enough to turn a plate, a vase or a box, and everything will be clear. The porcelain producers from Limoges had to prove their rights through the courts that porcelain, which is produced here, should be called Limoges.
Antiques are a bit more complicated. There was not a single color, not a single brand. For example, the Heviland family put the following labels: GDA, H & CO / L, H & CO / Depose and Porcelaine. Also, the marking of other manufactories has changed many times.
Handmade
Most of all I want to buy Limoges porcelain with hand-painted. After all, the products are amazingly beautiful. Handwork differs sharply from that done with the help of stencils, stamps, decals, silk-screen printing and other technical means. Each such picture is carefully painted with a brush. It is the traces of her strokes that distinguish manual work. Each touch of the brush leaves a smear of a certain kind on porcelain.
But sometimes artists paint with a sponge or pen, that is, the creator does not always adhere to the same technique. Even when repeating the drawing, there will still be differences, since this is a living person, not a machine. And one more subtlety. The color of the paint depends on how much the master picks up on the brush. Too much - and the paint will boil during firing. 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 simply fade. All this is familiar to the masters of the highest qualification, who put a picture on Limoges porcelain with hand-painted. Where is it produced? In the department of Haute-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, bonbonnieres, caskets, sculptures. Limoges porcelain is the pride of France. It diverges around the world. It can be bought in our country.