Limoges porcelain

Limoges Porcelain – The White Gold of France

Robust, delicate, translucent, and brilliant white. Limoges porcelain has been synonymous with top-class porcelain for centuries. The best raw materials, traditional craftsmanship, and the French flair for style and excellence have made the "white gold" of France a favourite of international star chefs, hoteliers and royal families. Discover the famous porcelain tableware from France in the carefully curated selection of Artedona.

What is Limoges Porcelain?

Limoges is the capital of the Haute-Vienne département in the heart of France. Only porcelain from the region around Limoges can be called Limoges porcelain. Porcelain from Limoges owes its international fame to the region’s pure raw materials and the strict quality standards that the local workshops have been upholding for centuries.

The city of Limoges was already an important centre for the production of enamel in the Middle Ages. In 1768, a rich deposit of exceptionally fine kaolin, the main ingredient for porcelain, was discovered near the town. Since then, Limoges has been the centre of porcelain manufacturing in France.

Why is Limoges Porcelain Special?

Connoisseurs appreciate the radiant white colour and the unmistakable luminosity of Limoges porcelain. The porcelain owes these characteristics to the high-quality kaolin found in the region. Also known as china clay, the coveted mineral is largely responsible for the colour of the porcelain. The finer the kaolin, the lighter the colour of the porcelain – just like the pure porcelain from Limoges.

Limoges porcelain is hard-paste porcelain and therefore exceptionally durable. Hard-paste porcelain has a kaolin content of up to 50% and is fired at extremely high temperatures of over 1400 °Celsius. At such high temperatures, the ceramics become dense, non-porous, completely waterproof, and particularly resistant to mechanical impact.

Bright, hard and sensually soft. Most Limoges porcelain dinnerware is translucent when held up to the light. Thanks to the high stability of the porcelain, plates, cups, and bowls can be made so thin and delicate that light will shine through them. The transparency lends Limoges porcelain a fragile beauty and graceful elegance that will turn the heads of dinner guests.

The designation “Limoges porcelain” is a guarantee of quality. Since 2017, "Porcelain from Limoges", in French " L'Identification Géographique 'Porcelaine de Limoges'", has been a protected designation of origin. To receive this label, the porcelain objects have to be produced and decorated entirely in the Haute-Vienne department. Certified Limoges porcelain is always 100% Made in France.

Which Limoges Porcelain Manufacturers Are There?

The workshops in Limoges cultivate a culture of expertise and excellence. They specialise in exceptional tableware for high demands. At Artedona, you will find hand-picked collections from selected manufacturers with of international renown.

Bernardaud is one of the last manufacturers of Limoges porcelain that is still family-owned. One of the best-known French porcelain houses, Bernardaud offers a wide variety of designs and refined shapes.

The Haviland porcelain manufactory delights with spectacular, modern designs that are elaborately printed onto the fine Limoges porcelain.

The dinnerware ranges by J.L Coquet are among the favourites of star chefs worldwide. The small manufacturer's trademark is the contrast between glazed and satin-finished bisque porcelain surfaces.

Jaune de Chrome is the sister manufactory of J.L Coquet. It develops special effect glazes that give J.L Coquet porcelain a new, dazzling dimension.

With sensual shapes and fascinating colours, the Raynaud manufactory creates poetic and elegant Limoges porcelain tableware. Their excellent craftsmanship blends with a cosmopolitan aesthetic to create a passionate art of living.

Artedona is Your Specialist for Limoges Porcelain

Do you have questions about tableware collections made of Limoges porcelain, are you looking for special tableware items or are you interested in professional catering lines? Rely on our personal advice, decades of expertise and worldwide shipping in professional packaging. We will be happy to advise you. Write us at service@artedona.com or call us at +49 (89) 45 69 20 66, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 6 pm CET.