Do you know what French porcelain Limoges boxes are and why they are so popular?
If you have admired these dainty little treasure boxes and want to know more about them, this post answers many of your questions.
Limoges boxes are considered miniature art pieces and are prized and collected worldwide. They are crafted only by a small group of highly-specialized artisans in Limoges, France. Limoges boxes are especially very popular in the United States among collectors and gift buyers. For more answers, see Top 10 Things Shoppers Look For Before Buying A Limoges Box.
The exquisite hand-painted artistry of French porcelain as well as the small size of Limoges boxes makes them ideal collectibles as well as impressive and valuable gifts.
Here are answers to some of the common questions you may have about French Limoges boxes:
Where Are Limoges Boxes Made?
Unlike many other collectibles that are made in various countries under the same name, an authentic Limoges box must be exclusively made in the Limousine region of central France. The Limousine region includes the city of Limoges as well as the surrounding towns and villages.
There are many factories in and around Limoges that produce fine French porcelain. The production of porcelain is a multi-level and labor-intensive process. Some factories produce the white porcelain and employ their own artists to hand-paint their products. Other factories only produce the white porcelain and provide them to other workshops and artists who specialize in painting porcelain.
Some factories in Limoges only specialize in tableware and decorative objects. Only a few factories produce the miniature Limoges boxes.
Examples of French porcelain Limoges boxes in various styles | LimogesCollector.com
How Are Limoges Boxes Made?
Limoges boxes are crafted from fine French porcelain by highly-skilled craftsmen in Limoges, France. The creation of Limoges boxes is a very labor-intensive process and is performed in numerous stages. It is said that up to 12 individuals are needed to produce and complete a French Limoges box.
The porcelain is made by mixing several minerals, including kaolin (the main ingredient of porcelain). The exact proportions are a well-kept secret by the manufacturers in Limoges. The porcelain paste is then poured into specialty molds and fired at high temperatures. The white porcelain Limoges is then hand-painted and hinged to create a magnificent work of art, ready for all to enjoy! To learn more about the making of a Limoges box, see How French Porcelain Limoges Boxes Are Made.
Are Limoges Boxes Hand-Painted?
One of the elements that makes a French Limoges box so special is the fact that each piece is individually crafted and hand-painted. The Limoges porcelain painters must have several years of experience in order to work on any Limoges product that is offered for sale.
Painting on porcelain is a multi-faceted and labor-intensive process in itself. The paints used for porcelain are mineral pigments in powder form that are mixed with special oils. With each paint color added, the porcelain needs to be fired in a special kiln in very high temperatures. The artist must be very knowledgeable about the temperature tolerance of each color used. If fired at the wrong temperature or in the wrong order, the paint will burn and ruin the piece.
To learn more about how Limoges artisans paint Limoges boxes, see How Limoges Boxes Are Hand-Painted?
Was There an Original Limoges Factory?
Contrary to what some may think, there is no single or original Limoges factory. From its start in the 1770s, when kaolin was first discovered in the Limoges region, many factories opened up and began producing porcelain. Today, several factories continue to produce these elegant works of art that are sold in France and exported worldwide.
Is Limoges A Brand?
“Limoges” is not a brand name. The city of Limoges is considered the “porcelain capital of France.” Any porcelain product that is crafted in the Limoges region is referred to as “Limoges.” As mentioned above, there are many factories and workshops in the Limoges area that produce Limoges porcelain tableware, decorative items, Limoges boxes and jewelry. All these products are simply called “Limoges.”
When it comes to Limoges boxes, any Limoges box that is produced in Limoges is considered an authentic Limoges. The only insignia it needs is “Paint Main” (hand-painted) and “Limoges, France” which authenticates the region of manufacture.
A Limoges factory such as Artoria, puts its name on all items it produces. Other well-known Limoges brands such as Beauchamp Limoges and Rochard are brands owned by US importers who commission their Limoges boxes, including many exclusive styles, directly from the factories and artist’s workshops in Limoges. See What Are The Top Limoges Brands.
There are also many Limoges boxes on the market from various brands that are now retired and out-of-production. These brands include PV, Chanille, La Gloriette, La Reine, Eximius, French Home, French Accents and others.
Are Limoges Boxes Made In Limited Edition?
Unlike many other decorative items, Limoges boxes are not mass-produced and are all made in limited editions. They are made to order, mainly by importers, in small factories and workshops in limited batches. Every style of Limoges box is designated a total number of production. However, many a time, those numbers are never reached. Also, since every Limoges box is created by hand and painted by different artists, each Limoges box is a unique piece of art, different from any other of its kind.
Limoges boxes can be designated in limited edition of 50, 100, and up to 1,000. However, majority of Limoges boxes are not marked with the limited edition number. This does not affect or detract from the value of the Limoges box. It is a preference of the manufacturer.
Purpose And Uses of Limoges Boxes
In the 18th century when snuff was in common use among the gentry, Limoges boxes were the perfect elegant and miniature containers to store and carry snuff in the pocket or purse. These exquisite objects came in a great variety of colors and designs to match one’s attire. Other than holding snuff, Limoges boxes were the perfect accessory to hold tiny objects such as pills, makeup powder, sewing pins and small pieces of jewelry. Many a time, Limoges boxes also served as the means of discretely exchanging small love notes.
Today, Limoges boxes are admired and collected mainly for their beauty and artistry. They are beautifully hand-painted not only on the outside, but many are painted in the interior as well. Some Limoges boxes have a surprise porcelain accessory inside that add greatly to the charm of the collectible box.
If the Limoges shape has enough room inside, they can certainly be used as pill boxes, holding small pieces of jewelry such as rings and earrings. Limoges boxes are a favorite gift for the newborn and commonly hold baby teeth and locks of hair. They also make a precious proposal gift given with a surprise engagement ring inside.
Markings and Backstamps
In order for a French Limoges box to be considered authentic, it must be signed. The markings and backstamps of Limoges boxes vary dramatically depending on the artist or the factory that produced it.
The necessary insignia of a Limoges box is “Peint Main” (hand-painted) and Limoges, France, showing the region of manufacture. There are also variations in the French language such as “Peint a la main” and “décor main” which are found in the insignia of many Limoges boxes.
Various Limoges factories and workshops have their own style of insignia. Some use a stamp with the required information, some use both a stamp and hand-written text and others only sign their boxes by hand. Some artists add their initials and others also add the limited edition number. All these methods are legitimate and authentic.
Spelling And Pronunciation
Being a French term, the word “Limoges” may be a little difficult for some to pronounce. Some people may search for Limoges online using a variety of spellings, such as lamoge, lamouge, limoge, lemoje, etc.
The correct spelling is “Limoges” with an “s” at the end. It is pronounced “lee-moje” and the “s” at the end is silent and is not pronounced.
Why Are Limoges Boxes Valuable?
French Limoges boxes are not only beautiful decorative items but greatly in demand collectible art pieces. Learning about the labor-intensive process of creating these miniature art pieces as well as their creation by a very limited number of experienced and skilled artisans in Limoges, France, you develop a deeper level of appreciation for the level of effort and artistic excellence that goes into crafting these luxury art pieces.
Limoges boxes can cost from under $100 to several thousand dollars. The value of a French Limoges box depends on many factors. The quality of the porcelain, the shape of the Limoges, the number of colors used, the expertise of the artist who paints the Limoges, the rarity of the piece, as well as many other elements all factor in the value of a tiny Limoges box that fits into your hand.
To know more about why Limoges boxes are so expensive and what gives them their value, see Are French Limoges Boxes Valuable? And Why? And Is My Limoges Box Worth Anything?
What’s the Best Place to Buy Limoges Boxes?
Several decades ago, you could only purchase French Limoges boxes in high-end jewelry stores and department stores. Nowadays, many of those stores are no longer in existence or carry such items.
Fortunately, the internet has opened up a great opportunity to purchase any item and that includes French Limoges boxes.
There are several websites that offer Limoges boxes. To know what is the best place to purchase an authentic French Limoges box, it is best to only shop from a trusted dealer who is also a direct importer of Limoges boxes.
At LimogesCollector.com, we are proud to offer one of the largest selection of fine French Limoges boxes imported directly from Limoges, France. Our collection includes Limoges boxes in every price point, from the top Limoges producers and brands, not to mention the extensive selection of retired, hard-to-find and rare Limoges boxes. At LimogesCollector.com you can find many exclusive Limoges boxes, found at our website only as well as many one-of-a-kind pieces to enhance your collection or give an impressive gift.
Another specialty of our website is personalization. You can have your Limoges purchase personalized by our in-house artist for a meaningful gift or collectible.
Now, take a moment to browse our selection of authentic French Limoges boxes in every style and theme. We are sure you will be many pieces that catch your fancy and some that you just cannot do without.
