Spotlight on Limoges
From oyster plates, to hair receivers, butter pats to cake stands, if it’s unusual, Limoges has produced it, often featuring jaw-dropping designs of hand painted majesty.
Although there are different versions of Limoges porcelain antiques, ranging from American to Chinese manufacturers, by far the most cherished of these collectables are the hand painted French varieties. In much of the United States, these treasured items can be virtually impossible to find.
Anticipate finding Limoges masterpieces depicting roses in every color. Heart-stopping, vibrant orange and red poppies will hypnotize you. Luscious grapes and berries appear ripe and gleaming, begging to be eaten. You can practically smell the nasturtiums, mums and carnations. These true-to-life visions will be treasured for generations to come.
Think of these masterpieces as smaller versions of an artist’s oil painting; one little portion depicted in exquisite detail. Typical to a plate design would be a bouquet of three flowers clustered in various stages of bloom and size near the top of the plate, while a matching single flower decorates the bottom. These blossoms stand out against a pleasant pastel background allowing the colors in the flowers to pop in intensity. Often these simple yet elegant plates are ringed with gold gilding.
If you are very fortunate, you may discover a small, round plate measuring 6″-8″ suitable for display for under $50. Larger Limoges plates and chargers with scalloped edges, dated from the late 1890s through 1910, can bring hundreds of dollars to well-versed dealers.
Items long treasured that reluctantly become available to the market can garner much more. For unique items, such as: cider pitchers, tapered vases, dresser trays, elaborately handled tankards, and tall, delicate pitchers, you can expect starting prices in the $500 range. It is not unusual to see stunning punch bowls, with matching bases exhibiting $2,000-$3,000 price tags.
You may even find vintage Victorian tea sets including teapot, cups and saucers (usually 2 of each) sitting on a matching tray. Be sure to keep your eyes open for accompanying sugar and creamers.
Hot cocoa sets, popular for the timeframe they were manufactured, will surely delight every beholder. These pieces are normally not as delicate as tea sets but still exhibit extraordinary, delicate paint details.
Stun your dinner guests, and show off your finest silver flatware by adorning your table with complete china settings of salad plates, entree plates, butter pats and matching candlestick holders. Decorated with designs of delicate fingernail sized floral prints, these complete sets often display the Haviland Limoges hallmark.
Highlighting some of the master china painters of their time, Limoges pieces occasionally bear the artist’s signature either displayed within the artwork, or more commonly, on the back or bottom. As for hallmarks, the most popular of the French varieties are stamped in either red or green indicating pieces manufactured circa 1890-1932.
Other markings include stamps indicating the manufacturer. Molds by Tressmann & Vogt-Mark 10 (T&V) date pieces from 1907 to 1919. William Guerin-Mark 4 (W.G. & Co.) items are dated from 1891-1932. Some of the most stunning offerings are stamped with Jean Pouyat-Mark 5 (J.P.L.) found during the same period as W.G.& Co. items.
A dazzling array of small boxes can be garnered in every size and design imaginable. From jewelry boxes to pill cases these items are ideal to hold your trinkets or stamps. Suitable for every use, these boxes are perfect for the collector with limited display space available.
If animals are more your fancy, paintings depicting four-footed creatures of every kind and pose adorn plates and boxes. Species of the winged variety are often captured perched on plant life or tree limbs native to their environment.
As Limoges also created wearable treasures, you can add flair and be the envy of your friends as they gasp over your newly found piece of jewelry. Brooches exhibiting portraits of lovely Victorian women or miniature landscapes are sure to be coveted.
Ladies will cherish hand painted brush and mirror sets to be displayed on matching trays. Hatpin and hairpin holders, and perfume bottles complete the dresser collection.
Men won’t be left out either, as masculine design moustache cups and pipe-holders featuring outdoor landscape scenes can be hunted as well.
Dated well over one hundred years old, cared-for Limoges pieces rarely exhibit crazing, crackling, or even chips often found in other porcelain or china ware. Therefore, my best advice is to scour antique booths and shops, as well as estate and yard sales in order to begin your collection now. And feel good in your investment as these cherished Limoges are certain to never lose their value if you ever choose to sell them.
