Limoges Porcelain Makers and Factories

Index below is to briefer mentions, the index to the left for when there is (or likely will be) more info or pictures - at least that was the idea.
More info and pictures of MARKS (only!) are welcome (e-mail link bottom right), but PLEASE no gigabyte pictures of grandma's china. And I do NOT do appraisals - there's an offsite link for appraisals in the right side menu.
Sorry that I've been away from e-limoges for so long, but I hope to keep up better now.>

Aragon • Ardant • Artisanal • Baignol • Baraud • Beule • Beurand • Blanchard • Blandecor • Broussaud • Chabrol • Chanille • Delotte • Descottes • Destieux • Dubarry • Eximious • French Accents • Gloriette • Gutherz • Haute-Vienne • Laporte • Leonard • Lesme • Levy • Limoges China • Limoges Imports • Margaine • Merigous • Merlin-Lemas • Miautre • Michel • Michelaud • Nivet • Pallas • Pastaud • Plaine • Puy • Queroix • Reboisson • Riffaterre • Rochechauart • Rose Decor • Rousset Ruaud • S & D • Serpaut • Siegel • Singer • —to top—Teissonniere • Texeraud • Thabard • P. Tharaud • Touze • Union • Vultury •

ARAGON & Vultury ¤ Aragon & Vultury continued the Limoges factory of H. Jouhanneaud in 1880; the business ended when the factory was sold in 1907. An impressed AV mark found on some porcelains of this period might be their mark. —to top—
ARDANT ¤ Henri Ardant (1828-1883) was a Limoges porcelain manufacturer, partner from about 1854 with Pierre Poncet at the former royal factory. Poncet retired in 1858 and the company became Henri Ardant & Cie, 6 Rue Cruveilher, with 150 workers. Ardant's son-in-law Raymond Laporte became a partner in 1878. Upon the death of Ardant in 1883, the company became R. Laport, then in 1890 the company was taken over by A. Laternier. The company made biscuit ware, esp. sculpture, and other wares. A.E. Carrier-Belleuse modelled figures for them in an 18th C style. Ardant was noted for artist productions, and little seems to have been exported. From 1854 Ardant used a porcelain mark of a flying bird and a stylized branch, from 1865 HA&Cie in an oval. Decorating marks say H. Ardant or Henri Ardant. —to top—
ARTISANAL ¤ After 6 years making porcelain and 20 years in business in Limoges, Joseph Oliviera created Artisanal Limoges in 1994 at 30 Allée des Gravelles, ZI Nord, 87280 Limoges. Artisanal sells both whiteware and decorated pieces, and their production includes miniatues, Limoges boxes, decorative items, and tableware. They employ 20 people, and around 80% of their business is export. —to top—
BAIGNOL ¤ The BAIGNOL porcelain factory was established in Limoges in 1797 by Etienne Baignol (1750-1821 or 2), who had been director of Manufacture de la Seynie and was one of the dominant personalities of early Limoges porcelain. He was succeeded in 1817 by his son Francois Baignol (1791-1875), who had worked as a porcelain painter. François established a factory at Saint-Brice in 1825, at the edge of the Brigueil forest. He sold the Limoges factory in 1834. The Baignol factories apparently were bought by Guerin & Cie and later by Jouhanneaud Freres, but details are unclear. Sometime after 1950 the Saint-Brice site was used by Jammet Seignolles, who renovated it in 1962. In the early 1800s, the Baignol and Alluaud factories produced three-quarters of all Limoges porcelains. I can find no mention of a Baignol mark. Some of the Manufacture de la Seynie porcelain was marked BAIGNOL during the time Baignol was director. —to top—
BARAUD ¤ In 1890 Aubin Baraud established a porcelain decorating atelier at 15 rue de Crucufix (Limoges). He was secceeded by his son-in-law Louis QUÉROIX about 1913, then by Pierre QUÉROIX perhaps from 1919 to 1944, then others later. —to top—
BEULÉ ¤ Beulé, Reboisson & Parot were Limoges porcelain makers. I have no dates or further information. Their porcelain mark was Limoges RBP France enclosed in a wreath. —to top—
BEURAND ¤ Andre BEURAND (1887-1976) was a Limoges ceramic painter and designer. He apprenticed with Pouyat, then worked for C. Ahrenfeldt after 1919. From 1940 he taught ceramic painting and also designed for C. Ahrenfeldt and others. Beurand retired in 1959. —to top—
BLANCHARD ¤ Blanchard Freres was a Limoges decorating studio active 1890-1908. The mark was FB in script with Limoges underneath. —to top—
BLANDECOR ¤ Blandecor was a Limoges porcelain decoration mark c1979, also known as Porcelaine Blanche. Possibly LA PORCELAINE BLANCHE BLANDECOR may be the official name; it may be related to Porcelaine Carpenet in St. Leonard de Noblat. —to top—
BROUSSAUD ¤ Broussaud Limoges was a porcelain decorator known only from a mark used c1979. The mark has RB and Porcelaine d'Art surrounded by a scrolled oval. —to top—
CHABROL ¤ Chabrol Freres & Poirier were Limoges porcelain makers from 1917 until sometime in the 1930s. The mark included CF&P over a circled star between a pair of wings. —to top—
CHANILLE ¤ Chanille Limoges Boxes began as a small shop in Paris opened by Anny and Jean-Pierre de Chazal in April 1966. The Chazals design the shapes and colors of the Limoges boxes. The casting and painting are done in Limoges, the final finishing and application of hinges in Paris. In the late 1980s, Chanille relocated to Charlotte NC (USA). In 2008/2009 Chanille went out of business. The handwritten black mark includes Chanille peint main, artist initials, and numbering.—to top—
DELOTTE ¤ Delotte & H. Tarnaud (1879-86) was the successor to the Limoges factory of Michel & Valin (1833-1879) on the route de Paris. Production was mostly tableware. —to top—
DESCOTTES ¤ Descottes, Reboisson & Baranger were Limoges porcelain makers between 1922 and 1927. Porcelain mark d40a shown.—to top—
DESTIEUX ¤ Porcelaine Destieux was established established in 1995 in Verneuil-sur-Vienne near Limoges. They are still in business. Handwritten mark d45a shown. —to top—

DUBARRY ¤ For about 50 years Dubarry Limoges Porcelains has imported into England porcelains made and decorated in Limoges. Many of their castings are exclusive to Dubarry. Their marks all say Dubarry (decorating mark d50a shown, recent). —to top—
EXIMIOUS ¤ Eximious of London has been a catalog retailer of travel related gifts and Limoges boxes for many years, with one shop London. They are involved in design and decoration of their Limoges boxes, some all hand painted and some with retouch of transfer decoration. In the 1980s Josephine Louis established an Eximious shop and catalog business in Illinois. The mark is handwritten Eximious, mark e70a pictured. —to top—
French Accents ¤ French Accents is a manufacturer and decorator of Limoges boxes, especially selling in the USA. They may have began to distribute from Torrance CA in 1983 but later closed their distributorship and now work through US distributors. Some early Limoges boxes had transfer decoration, but all Limoges boxes are now hand painted. Mark f70a shown includes FA and a bow. —to top—
GLORIETTE ¤ La Gloriette was a California based importer and distributor of Limoges boxes. I do not know how much involvement they had in the casting and design of boxes. The mark is relatively common and the quality seems to be good. Mark g40a shown. —to top—
GUTHERZ ¤ Oscar Gutherz was a Limoges porcelain decorator active in the late 1800s. Oscar & Edgar Gutherz were principles in Mark & Gutherz, a Chechoslovakian porcelain company started in 1884. This business was financed by Lazaras Straus & Sons, who were also importers of Limoges porcelains, and the Mark & Gutherz round mark is very like the round Gutherz Limoges mark. Round and triangular red decorating marks from Limoges both have his Oscar Gutherz written out. —to top—

HAUTE-VIENNE ¤ Porcelainerie de la Haute-Vienne was a Limoges company making and decoratoring porcelain from 1920 to 1959. They used the factory in Saint Leonard, near Limoges, which had been established in the 1820s, bought by Pouyat in 1835, and eventually sold by the widow of the last partner. Illustrated porcelain mark P65a was used 1920-1959—to top—
LaPORTE ¤ Raymond Laporte (c1848-1898) began as a Limoges porcelain manufacturer in 1872. He was partner with his father-in-law H. Ardant from 1873 until Ardant died in 1883. Laporte then opened another factory nearby; it closed in 1897. Laporte's production included authorized reproductions of Sevres porcelains and sculptures in biscuit. The Laporte marks are rare. They include RL and a flying insect, usually called a butterfly. —to top—
LaVIOLETTE ¤ LaViolette was a Limoges porcelain factory in business from 1896 to 1905. No decorating mark is known for this company, but it is possible that they decorated some LaViolette porcelains bearing another company's exporting mark. Mark L25a, green porcelain mark, is shown. —to top—LaViolette •
LEONARD ¤ P. H. Leonard was a New York City based importer of Limoges and German porcelains from the 1890s until WWI. Imports seem to have been factory decorated but bear Leonard's export mark rather than the factory decorating mark. Marks included PHL in a circle or over a line - or LEONARD diagonally across a shield. —to top—
LESME ¤ Jules Lesme made decorative porcelain in Limoges from c1852 to c1881. Products included imitations of Palissy ware in lead-glazed porcelain (1860's) and copies of Canton ware. Lesme filed patents for ground colors in 1863. Around 1839 the family opened a decorating studio in Limoges; they had 38 workers 1844. —to top—
LEVY ¤ L. W. Levy & Co. was a New York City importer and decorator of Limoges porcelain. They operated possibly as early as the late 1800s until c1935, but seem to have been most active in the 1920s. Levy Brothers China Company in New York City from the late 1930s to the 1940s may be a continuation of L. W. Levy & Co. Their red or blue decorating mark was IMPERIAL over a crown, and their porcelain is often call Imperial Limoges. —to top—
LIMOGES CHINA ¤ Limoges China Co. is NOT a French company. Established as Sterling China Co. in Sebring (Ohio) in 1900 by Frank and Frederick Sebring, it was soon trading as Limoges China Co., selling mostly semi-porcelain. The name was changed to American Limoges China Co. in 1949; they stopped production before the company was sold in 1955. —to top—
LIMOGES IMPORTS ¤ Limoges Imports was a New York City importer of Limoges boxes and some other porcelains. Now a subsidiary of Syratech, as also is Rochard, whose name continues to be used. Mark L85a is shown below.—to top—
MARGAINE ¤ Andre-Emile Margaine (1841-1928) was born in Limoges and worked as a porcelain modeller; he was especially known for pate-sur-pate. His production included many plaques, often with allegorical subjects. Andre-Emile Margaine was a distant relation of Alpinine Margaine, a major figure in early Limoges porcelain. —to top—
MERIGOUS ¤ Merigous opened as a Limoges porcelain maker and decorator in 1978. The company was still active in 2000, with 43 employees, but they were making primarily door handles and knobs. —to top—
MERLIN-LEMAS ¤ P. Merlin-Lemas was a Limoges porcelain maker and decorator from the mid 1920s —to top—
MIAUTRE ¤ Miautre, Raynaud & Cie made porcelain in Limoges between 1929 and 1934 —to top—
MICHEL ¤ Michel & Valin was a Limoges porcelain factory founded in 1832 by Michel Aaron and Jean-Baptiste Valin, both of whom had previously made bronzes. The company won a silver medal for decorative pieces at the 1844 Exposition de l'Industrie Francaise. Aaron left for Chantilly in 1845, and Valin continued the company. Valin's son-in-law Berthoud became a partner in 1855, and that year the company again exhibited decorative pieces. The firm was continued by Berthoud from 1864 to 1878. From 1879 to 1886 the company was Delotte & H. Tarnaud and produced mostly tableware. —to top—

MICHELAUD ¤ L. Michelaud was a Limoges porcelain decorator active from 1908 to 1962. Mark M65a is shown.—to top—
NIVET ¤ Michel Nivet (d1869) opened a Limoges porcelain factory in 1826 with a partner who left in 1834. A later partner, G. Thomas, continued the factory after Nivet retired in 1858. Thomas retired c1866, and from 1867 to 1882 the factory was run by Leon Pallier. The Nivet family leased the factory to Pierre Martin in 1882. Pierre's brother Charles became a partner in 1886. Charles Martin was operating alone by 1897, and he bought the building in 1905. Martin was joined by his son-in-law, Jean Duche, in 1919: Duche became a partner c1923. The factory closed c1930. (also see Martin) —to top—
PALLAS ¤ Porcelaine Pallas was a Limoges decorating company active from 1926 to 1950, using the decorating mark shown above. —to top—
PASTAUD ¤ P. Pastaud Freres was a Limoges porcelain and decorating company active from the 1920s to the 1950s. —to top—
PLAINE ¤ Plaine Maison Freres were Limoges porcelain makers active c1890s to c1910 —to top—
PUY ¤ Puy de Dome were distributors of Limoges boxes, dates uncertain but recent. Mark P95a is shown above.—to top—
QUÉROIX, Louis & Pierre ¤ Louis continued from about 1913 the atelier begun by his father-in-law Aubin BARAUD at 15 rue de Crucifix (Limoges) in 1890. Pierre continued in 1919 perhaps until 1944 when Société Limousine de Porcelaine (and later others) used the building. The building was enlarged in 1927. —to top—
REBOISSON ¤ Charles Reboisson began decorating porcelain in Limoges in 1942. The decorating mark has BR and Limoges France inside a wreath with bow. —to top—
RIFFATERRE ¤ A. Riffaterre was a Limoges porcelain decorator active around 1900. —to top—
ROCHECHAUART ¤ Rochechauart is a town 40km from Limoges. A workshop with a single kiln was established there in 1837; it was bought c1860 by Pierre Duval, who produced pottery for domestic use. In 1925 the factory changed production to horticultural wares. In 1970 the factory had 50 works and produced flower pots. —to top—
ROSE DECOR ¤ Rose Decor was an importer of Limoges boxes into the USA. Recent, but no exact dates. Marks R75a and R75b are shown below.—to top—

ROUSSET ¤ Rousset & Guillerot were Limoges porcelain makers and decorators. No dates nor other data yet —to top— •
RUAUD ¤ Jean-Baptiste Ruaud was a Limoges ceramicist and porcelain manufacturer. He used part of the M. Nivet factory beginning in 1829, then he worked in the Monnerie factory from 1839 until his retirement in 1869. Ruaud introduced industrial methods to porcelain manufacture, including machinery to make repetitive items such as plates. In 1855 he developed a process combining wood and coal in firing porcelain furnaces. Ruaud's mark is rare and was a simple R, either impressed or painted. —to top—
S & D ¤ S & D Limoges is the trade name for Shirley Dickerson, a Texas importer of high quality Limoges boxes. She started her business in 1981 and apparently recently retired. Apparently, there was no company mark. —to top—
SERPAUT ¤ C. Serpaut left the Bernardaud company to open C. Sepaut in 1920. His son took over in 1930, and the company closed in the late 1950s. His green porcelain mark S30a used 1923-1930 is shown below.—to top—
SIEGEL ¤ Siegel & Sohm were Limoges porcelain makers and decorators active from 1906 to 1923 —to top—

SINGER ¤ Singer was a Limoges porcelain decoratoring company active from 1954 to 1974, using illustrated marks S50a, a green mark from a Limoges hinged box, and mark S50b, a gold mark. —to top—
TEISSONNIERE ¤ Jules Teissonniere was a Limoges porcelain decorating company active from 1908 to the 1940s. —to top—
TEXERAUD ¤ L. Texeraud was a Limoges porcelain decorator active from 1923 to c1930. —to top—
THABARD ¤ H. Thabard was a Limoges porcelain decorator active from 1932 to c1950. —to top—
P. THARAUD ¤ Pierre Tharaud (1783-1843) was a Limoges porcelain maker. In 1798 he became an apprentice at the Baignol factory, then in 1803 joined F. Alluaud. He went to Paris and worked for Dante but returned to Limoges c1813 and took over a Limoges porcelain factory in 1817. He produced quality whiteware and classical pieces with gold decoration. Tharaud established a new Limoges factory in 1822. His widow continued the business; when she retired in 1865, the company went to the Pouyat family. —to top—
TOUZE ¤ Touze, Lemaitre & Blancher was a Limoges porcelain factory active from 1918 to 1939. Also, a Touze factory established in 1848 was used by Sazerat and Maragine from 1852 to 1859. No info about any connection. —to top—
UNION ¤ Union Ceramique was a Limoges porcelain making and decoratoring company active from 1909 to 1938. Illustrated are mark U30a, decorating mark in red or green, and mark U30b, green porcelain mark.—to top—

VULTURY ¤ Vultury Freres was a Limoges porcelain factory in operation from 1887 to 1904. Illustrated underglaze porcelain mark V90a was their only mark.—to top—

Bookmark e-Limoges

Appraisals • Limoges Makers
Shipping • What's Limoges ? Bears • Big cats • Birds • 'Bugs' • Cats • Dogs • Frogs • Furry • Horses • Livestock • Pigs • Rabbits • Reptiles • Wild birds • Aquatic • Wildlife Art • Music • Literature • Angels • Christian • Jewish • Zodiac • Peanuts© • Miscellaneous Fruit • Veggies • Desserts • Foods • Kitchen • Serving • Wine • Champagne • Coffee/Tea • Drinks Furnishings • Garden • Flowers • Equipment • Dwellings Babies • Play • School • Love • Wedding • Friends • Professions Bags/Cases • Shoes • Purses • Hats • Sewing • Hygiene • Men's • Women's New Year • Easter • July 4 • Halloween • Thanksgiving • Winter • Santa • Christmas • 12 Days • Gifts Hearts • Rounded • Squared • Eggs • Perfumes • Other Beach • Golf • Ball sports • Sports • Gambling • Smoking • Fish/Hunt Air & space • Land • Water • Eiffel Tower • Paris • France • England • Italy • Europe • World • USA Brooches • Earrings • Necklaces

Michael Crezee
Contact & info email