Antique Spotlight _ Limoges China

This is the first in a series of articles that will explore the history of some of the world's finest china manufacturers! For over 200 years, Limoges porcelain has been made by several different factories, all located in the same region of France. The term "Limoges" refers to the geographic origin of the piece, not a particular company, and is associated with a high standard of quality that is well-known around the world. A piece is usually stamped with the word "Limoges" and a symbol or set of initials. This mark can be traced to the actual manufacturer. The soil in the region is rich in kaolin and feldspar, the essential materials for making hard paste porcelain. When production first began in the late 1700s, plentiful forests readily supplied wood to fuel the kilns, and nearby rivers provided convenient transportation for... [read full story]