Is Limoges China or Porcelain?
Limoges is a city in France that is famous for its porcelain production. Limoges porcelain refers not to a specific maker or factory, but to any porcelain that comes out of the region around Limoges. The name Limoges Porcelain has been protected since 2017, so that only porcelain made in Limoges and the immediate surrounding areas that respect the traditional production techniques are allowed to carry the name Limoges Porcelain.
Limoges Porcelain is hard-paste porcelain. Sometimes referred to as “true porcelain”, hard-paste porcelain was first made in China, hence the term china is commonly used to describe porcelain. The term porcelain actually comes from the Latin word porcella which means seashell, and alludes to the smooth, white, lustrous and almost translucent nature of porcelain.
Limoges became famous for the production of hard-paste porcelain in the 18th century after the discovery of Kaolin deposits in the nearby area. Kaolin is a key ingredient in the production of “true porcelain” and it is this material, as well as a very high firing temperature, that distinguishes hard-paste porcelain from soft-paste porcelain.
Soft paste porcelain, while often being just as beautiful and translucent as hard-paste porcelain is fired at lower temperatures and is not as resistant as hard-paste porcelain. Thus it is often more popular for decorative items rather than dinner services.
Is There a Difference Between China and Porcelain?
Essentially china and porcelain are the same things. As mentioned above china or porcelain was first made in China. However, china is often used as a broader more generic term than porcelain. In fact, Limoges France is known mainly for porcelain.
While the mineral make up of European and Chinese porcelain or china is not exactly the same, hard-paste porcelain requires kaolin, feldspathic rock and high firing temperatures. Whereas soft-paste porcelain has a lower firing temperature and utilizes different minerals.
Also, in the 18th-century Kaolin was discovered in the UK and the British started making porcelain. It was the British who subsequently started producing bone China, a lighter weight and more translucent ceramic, that was made by adding ground bone ash from farm animals to the Kaolin. The addition of bone allowed the clay to be fired at lower temperatures.
Fine bone china, sometimes referred to as English porcelain, is often thinner and more lightweight than other porcelain and has greater durability and chip resistance thanks to the addition of bone dust.
Production of Limoges Porcelain Today
Limoges porcelain is still produced today and remains popular. There have been many artistic collaborations in recent history with famous artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama. And artists will head to Limoges factories to create unique works of porcelain art.
Limoges factories also still produce dinner services that are favored by high-end restaurants that favor the elegance and durability of these handcrafted items. As well as dinnerware and one of a kind ceramic sculptures, the Limoges factories are still producing highly collectible trinket boxes that are loved the world over.
