Limoges Box
The expensive top-end items can be adorned with 22-karat gold , diamonds or rubies. The bowes have metal hinges for the lids are fitted towards the end of he manufacturing process, making each item unique. For many centuries, European pottery was fashioned from soft clay and was easily broken as the dried clay became brittle.
Eastern fine porcelain, such as that produced by Chinese artisans, was made from what is called hard-paste clay. This type of clay was not widely available to pottery makers in Europe until it was discovered in Limoges, France
Hard-paste clay, or kaolin, was discovered in the mountains of the Limoges region in the early 19th century, which meant that the French artists could produce porcelain as durable as the Chinese variety, and also with a pleasing color. For this reason, Limoges became the center of fine porcelain products in France, also attracting entrepeneurs from other countries, including America.
The French craftsmen working in the Limoges region also made other porcelain items, such as Limoges plates and cups, but the Limoges boxes were, and are, a very popular concept for French buyers. They traditonally used them for perfume, powders, medicines, jewelry and secret things like love letters from an admirer. They are beautiful objects, and even though they were put to some 'practical' uses, they are more of a fashion accessory kept for their looks and considerable value as a social status symbol.
Popularity in France dropped off in modern times, as they were not too practical in an increasingly utilitarian era. Some Limoges boxes found their way to the USA, but they were not really exported from France in any great numbers until around 1950. Of course, imitations appeared all over the place, and in the 1960s cheap imports were every where, obviously fabricated to a much lower standard.
Under French law, a particular stamp is required to indicate that an item was produced in Limoges by recognized artisans. In addition to this mark, the individual manufacturers were free to add their own, which means the variety of authentic Limoges marks is quite large. Another indication of authenticity is the amount of intricate detail and the paint quality seen on the box. The difference is very obvious when comparing a Limoges box valued at $300 with a cheap import that may cost $10.
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