Limoges Plates
These sought after items named after the Fench town were they are traditionally created, were actually made in more than one factory and painted by various artists. Blank porcelain plates were produced, and then shipped to other places for the artists to decorate. It is this variation in the decoration and painting styles that makes the differences in value of these items, as the standard of the artistry fluctuates to a certain degree.
The most valuable plates are ones that are painted completely by hand, and bears the signature of the artist, particularly if the artists well known and respected. Limoges plates with intricate details and ornate style are sought after and generally fetch a high price. It is possible to find plates that are not painted to a high quality and this is because it was a hobby of French ladies at one time to decorate these items. They would buy original blanks made from the hard-paste Limoges clay, and design their own illustrations just for pleasure.
Limoges plates are of particular interets to porcelain collectors. The range of illustration available is diverse and they are very attractive, and were produced from the 1800s up to 1930, after which more practical public tastes valued use over appearance.
Illustrations were also applied by a transfer tecnnique, which was a very quick way of decorating a plate, but removed some of it's individuality, which is why this type of porcelain item is not as valuable as the totally hand painted variety. However, some plates using the transfer technique are quite good quality - sometimes the basic transfer design might be touched up by an artist, which added to it's uniqueness.
There aren't too many imitations out there, unlike items such as the Limoges boxes, so it's relatively easy to ensure that you have an original, just because of the great numbers produced. Of course, it's always necessary to carefully identify Limoges plates on the under side and there are many excellent books that explain the symbols you might find. The value of the plate can be approximated when you know the approximate age, the company that produced it and possibly the artist who painted it.
Some of the common Limoges factory marks include Coiffe, Guerin-Pouyat-Elite Ltd., and Laviolette. In the USA, the Haviland Company factory in Limoges, France created, decorated and sold Limoges plates, and was the name to know amongst the wealthy. Between 1900 and the Depression years, Limoges items were often given as a wedding gift, and represented a durable gift that would last as long as the marriage. Haviland Limoges plates can be found in estate sales and hidden away in the family china cabinet, when porcelain items have been handed down through the generations.
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