For more than 250 years, the porcelain and enamel of Limoges have been made by hand by skilled artisans. Today many of these workshops are small family businesses, and the craft needs new collectors to survive.
At Limoges Boutique we have sold hand-painted Limoges boxes in the United States for over 25 years. Every box we sell is made and painted in the Limoges region, and every purchase helps keep these artisans at work: the mold makers, the painters, the gilders and the metalworkers who fit each tiny hinge and clasp by hand.
Les Maisons et les Ateliers: The Houses and Workshops of Limoges
Limoges is home to les grandes maisons de porcelaine, the great porcelain houses, and to a new generation of céramistes and émailleurs who keep the arts du feu alive. We admire their savoir-faire and are proud to share their names with our collectors.
Les Grandes Maisons de Porcelaine
- Bernardaud, a family maison since 1863, famous for its arts de la table
- Haviland, founded in 1842 by the American David Haviland, the house that brought Limoges china to America
- Raynaud, known for its elegant porcelaine de table
- Royal Limoges, one of the oldest names in Limoges porcelain
- Legle, luxury porcelaine de table
- Les Ateliers Arquié, where every step, from moule to décor, is done in-house
Les Ateliers de la Boîte de Limoges: The Box Makers
The little hinged boîtes de Limoges our collectors love are shaped, fired, painted and fitted with their tiny hinges by hand in the ateliers of the Limousin. Among the names we are proud to carry:
- Rochard
- Artoria
- Chamart
- La Gloriette
- La Seynie
- Merigous
- Lachaniette
- Elda Créations
Les Créateurs Contemporains
- Esprit Porcelaine, a collectif of some thirty porcelain creators
- Le Bocal, a gallery of contemporary Limoges créateurs
- L'Atelier du Blanc, porcelain lighting and jewelry
- Tambour Bazar, playful porcelaine sauvage, mobiles and wall pieces
- L'Atelier Passage Secret, pierced porcelain lamps
- Outrage Studio, contemporary porcelain
- Anne Merlet, birds, sheep and flowers on porcelain
- L'Atelier des Curiosités, porcelain creations and workshops
Les Émailleurs: The Enamel Artists of Limoges
Long before porcelain, Limoges was the capital of European enamel, l'émail de Limoges. These artists carry on the tradition of émail grand feu, émail sur cuivre and plique-à-jour:
- Les Émaux Arédiens
- Lise Rathonie
- LCK Créations, enamel jewelry
- ChLoreD, enamel paintings on metal
- L'Atelier d'Émaux sur Cuivre
Les Gardiens du Patrimoine: Keepers of the Heritage
- Musée national Adrien Dubouché, the national porcelain museum
- Le Four des Casseaux, one of the last great porcelain kilns
- Le Pôle Européen de la Céramique
- Le CRAFT, the Centre de Recherche sur les Arts du Feu et de la Terre
- Le Syndicat Professionnel des Émailleurs Français
How You Can Help
- Choose authentic Limoges. Look for "Limoges France" and "Peint Main" (hand-painted) on the bottom. Read our guide to Limoges marks.
- Visit Limoges. See the porcelain museum and the old kilns for yourself. Start with our guide to Limoges, France.
- Learn how they are made. Take our photo tour of how Limoges boxes are made.
- Give a Limoges box. A hand-painted box is a gift that supports a centuries-old French craft. Browse our hand-painted Limoges boxes.
Are You a Limoges Artisan?
If you make porcelain or enamel in Limoges or the Limousin and would like to reach American collectors, please contact us. Nous serions ravis de vous lire.