Fine porcelain – discovering porcelain from France.

In modern times the words “fine porcelain” have come to be synonymous with porcelain from France. However, while fine porcelain itself has been around in the Far East since mediaeval times, porcelain from France is a relative newcomer, dating back to the early 18th century. Discover more about its qualities below.

 

 

What constitutes fine porcelain?

The high quality fine porcelain produced in France nowadays is composed of approximately 50% kaolin (a very fine white clay), 25% quartz and 25% feldspar. Thanks to the high proportion of kaolin used, and multiple firings at high temperatures, Limoges fine porcelain combines strength with a particularly smooth and translucent appearance. Genuine Limoges pieces can be identified by stamps and certificates of authenticity.

Porcelain from France, almost 300 years of style.

In their early days, the chief preoccupation of French fine porcelain manufacturers was to emulate the porcelain produced in China. But soon they began to develop an identifiable style of their own, a tradition lovingly upheld by today’s creators. Typically, porcelain from France can be recognised by its use of soft colours, accentuated by fine detailing in 24 carat gold. Hours of painstaking work go into each piece of handpainted high quality porcelain from France, making each creation unique and highly sought-after.