What is Limoges Known For in France?
Limoges is a city situated around 400km South of Paris in what was once the Limousin region of France now known as Nouvelle Aquitaine. It is best known for Limoges porcelain (which includes Limoges boxes, Limoges tableware and Limoges decorative items), Limoges Enamel and Limoges Cattle.
Limoges was founded by the Romans and had everything you would expect from a Roman city including baths, an amphitheater and a forum. By the 12th century Limoges was known for its enamel, mainly religious items that were exported around the Christian world.
While today Limoges is best known for its porcelain, the kaolin deposits required to make the famous hard-paste porcelain for which Limoges is known wasn’t discovered until the 18th century.
Before porcelain made the city famous it was meat that was the lifeline of the city. Butchery was something of a religion in Limoges and the butchers even had their own chapel run by a brotherhood known as the confrérie de Saint Aurélien. It was the butchers who were given the symbolic keys to the city and would greet visiting dignitaries when they came to the region.
Today you can still visit the rue de la Boucherie where the butchers moved in the 13th century, and see the historic Maison de la Boucherie, the only remaining example of a 15th century butchers shop, house and abattoir.
Due to the thriving butchery trade in the region, Limoges was also known for its production of leather goods, with many factories taking advantage of the water and power provided by the river that runs through the city.
Limoges Porcelain
Today Limoges is undoubtedly most famous for its porcelain. Limoges became known for porcelain production in the 18th century after the fortuitous discovery of large kaolin deposits in the surrounding area in 1765 during the industrial revolution.
Kaolin is an important ingredient in the production of hard paste porcelain. This type of porcelain is fired at very high temperatures. It is a resistant porcelain despite being delicate and almost translucent to look at. The radiant whiteness and almost luminous qualities make Limoges porcelain perfect for painting. And Limoges is famous for not only its exquisite dinner services but its decorative porcelain trinket boxes, plates and serving platters.
After the discovery of Kaolin in the area many people became employed in this new industry. Limoges already had a history in the decorative arts, being once famous for its enamel. And, in a few decades, Limoges had overtaken Paris as the centre for private porcelain production, with many well known factories establishing themselves in the area. Including those dedicated to exporting Limoges porcelain internationally.
Today antique pieces of Limoges porcelain can go for thousands of dollars, especially those that are by renowned artists or particularly sought after pieces. And there is still a thriving industry in the area creating porcelain plates and dinner services as well as highly collectible Limoges boxes.
