The term “retired” is referred to a French porcelain Limoges box that is out of production and is no longer produced.
Each Limoges factory, workshop, studio or designing artist has its own style and painting quality. When any of those elements are no longer in production, the Limoges box will be considered retired. Even if another workshop produces the same shape of Limoges box, the difference in coloring and artistry can be dramatically different and not considered the same.
There are various reasons why a peint main Limoges box can be considered retired. Some of them are as follows:
The Limited Edition quantity has been reached
All Limoges boxes are made in a limited edition. The limited edition can vary dramatically from style to style. Some styles can be made in a limited edition of 50 or 100, whereas others can be made in a limited edition of 500, 750 or 1,000. When the designated quantity of the Limoges style is reached, the Limoges box with that exact shape and colors is considered retired.
Of course, if the shape is still available, the artist or factory can produce the Limoges box with different coloring.
The specific brand of Limoges is no longer in production
During the 20th century, Limoges boxes gained a great popularity in the United States. Many importers began importing French Limoges boxes to the United States under various brand names with their own backstamps. Some of those importers have since closed and as a result, Limoges boxes produced under their brand name are considered retired.
Some styles of Limoges boxes produced under the currently existing Limoges brands such as Beauchamp, Rochard and Artoria, are retired since they are no longer produced.
The specific design or colors are no longer produced
If the Limoges factory or designing artist decide to discontinue production of any specific style or color variation of a Limoges box, that specific style and coloring of a Limoges box will be considered retired.
The factory or workshop who produced the Limoges box is closed
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, some factories and workshops in Limoges, France have closed their doors and ceased production of Limoges boxes. As a result, all specific styles of Limoges boxes with the exact design and coloring produced by such shuttered workshops are considered retired.
The artist who created the Limoges style has retired
There are several well-known and outstanding independent artists from Limoges who have personally retired and no longer producing Limoges boxes. The Limoges boxes created by such artists are very specific in shape and painting artistry. All creations by such retired artists are considered retired.
The mold is no longer available
Every Limoges box has its own specific mold to reproduce the shape. Some shapes of Limoges boxes are made by general porcelain factories and are available to workshops and independent artists in Limoges. Other shapes are owned by specific brands, factories or artists and are exclusive. If a mold is no longer made available for production, the style of Limoges box will be considered retired.
When a Limoges shape is retired, the molds are destroyed and the piece becomes a part of Limoges history. As you can imagine, these Limoges boxes demand a much higher range of pricing due to their rarity and desirability by collectors.
Why are Retired Limoges boxes collected?
Limoges boxes are extremely popular collectibles, whether they are newly created or retired.
To learn more about collecting Limoges boxes, see Guide to Collecting New vs. Retired & Vintage Limoges boxes.
Many collectors prefer to collect retired Limoges boxes only, as they are harder to find and in short supply and many have become quite rare.
As explained above, many styles of Limoges boxes are now considered retired for a variety of reasons. Some have been made in very low quantities and are now in very high demand.
Limoges boxes have not only retained their value but have seen a great increase in value with passage of time. This is especially true with retired Limoges boxes as they are in great demand and short supply.
Many retired Limoges boxes are of the highest demand among Limoges collectors, as the workmanship and artistry of such Limoges boxes are unmatched. Some of the artists who are now retired, produced truly outstanding museum quality Limoges boxes that make them truly desirable by collectors.
At LimogesCollector.com, we are proud to offer a vast selection of current and retired Limoges boxes. Many of our offerings are retired and rare Limoges boxes that are the pride of collectors to own.
So take a moment to browse our fantastic collection of French porcelain Limoges boxes in every shape and form. You are sure to find many Limoges boxes from our collection of over 5,000 Limoges styles that you would love to own.
