Antique and vintage Limoges porcelain jewelry

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Faux pearl gold tone lady’s portrait porcelain brooch. Vintage Limoges porcelain jewelry

Antique and vintage Limoges porcelain jewelry (1800s-1980s)
Famous all over the world for its impeccable porcelain, Limoges is the name of a city in France, the production of which began in 1770. Classic patterns, ornaments and paintings in the Renaissance style are the hallmark of truly royal luxury.
Brooches, earrings and pendants are one of the types of porcelain products produced in the city of Limoges. Wealthy clients wore such porcelain decorations as medallions, dressed on a jabot or a velvet necklace. Usually people ordered such brooches or pendants with the handpainted miniature portraits depicting people dear to them as talismans or gifts. Brooches with romantic scenes, famous people, or floral motifs were also a great success.
The possession of Limoges porcelain and decorations made from it indicated a certain status and wealth of its owner.
Filigree frame could be made from both gold and diamonds, as well as copper and alloys. Today, Limoges jewelry is highly collectible. Noteworthy, not only local jewelers, but also artists and designers of famous fashion houses created Limoges jewelry. In this case, the maker’s mark alongside with “Limoges” and “Paris” included the designer’s or artist’s mark.

Art Nouveau lady’s portrait brooch pin. 18K yellow gold, diamond, pearl, enamel

The history of Limoges porcelain began when a Catholic missionary traveled to China. The crafty Jesuit for decades copied the technological process of making porcelain by the Chinese into his secret albums and sent them to his homeland. However, even with the availability of technology, it was not clear what to make porcelain from.

Antique and vintage Limoges porcelain jewelry

White heart Valentine’s brooch

Thanks to the provincial doctor from Limoges, the technology of making porcelain came into life. He drew attention to the perfectly white powder kaolin found in the local deposits. The powder turned out to be “white gold”, and the city of Limoges became known throughout France for its enamels.

Maker’s mark

In 1759, King Louis XV purchased the deposits, and the production of Limoges porcelain remained exclusively a royal privilege. Only in the 19th century the era of large-scale production by independent manufacturers began.

However, in the twentieth century, porcelain manufacturers from Limoges had to defend their right in court that only porcelain made here could be called Limoges.