( Note – Every Limoges Box on LimogesFactory.com is signed by the artist and marked with the words, “Peint Main (hand painted), Limoges, France.” and is shipped with a Certificate of Authenticity )

Marco Polo spent 24 years in the Orient and it was during this time that Chinese ceramics originated throughout Western Europe. The porcelain manufacture was heavily influenced by the Chinese then the Venetians and Portuguese brought the art to Europe.

The discovery of Kaolin revolutionized the manufacture of Limoges boxes.

The Europeans were working with a substance that was similar to a soft paste but not smooth and hard like glass. The first manufacture of Porcelain Limoges began in the mid to late 18^th century when the most important ingredient, Kaolin was discovered in Limoges, France. Kaolin is the white clay formed from silicate of aluminum found in China, Germany and Limoges France. This is what is still being used today to create beautiful Limoges boxes and figurines. Shortly after the discovery the first Limoges box factory was created and later purchased by Louis XVI. The beautifully created porcelain box blanks were taken to Sevres where they were hand painted and decorated.

One of the first porcelain Traditional Limoges boxes was the snuffbox which became very popular around 1730. In order to better identify your antique snuffbox you can examine the artwork and look for the signature or back stamp that many of them came with. Different periods yielded different artists:

• Chantilly, 1725-1800
• Saint Cloud, 1677-1766
• Mennecy, 1734-1773
• Royal Sevres, 1756 to present

The snuffboxes became unpopular in the 18^th century.

After this the soft paste porcelain was ceased. Only Kaolin clay was used. The porcelain industry was dominated by the region of Limoges and with snuff boxes going out of style other styles were created such as pill boxes, fancy cigarette cases and pill boxes.

In 1841 a law was passed.

It is easier now than ever to recognize a genuine Limoges box or figurine as a law passed in 1841 requiring that all Limoges boxes must be stamped indicating that they are genuine. It is also imprinted with the French words “peint mein” interpreted to read “painted by hand” when hand painted. There are still very lovely Limoges boxes which are genuine and not hand painted but a stunning white or decorated with transfers or a decal process.

One of the truly treasured things about Limoges boxes and figurines are their uniqueness.

 They were given as signs of love and or treasured friendship and people began to collect them. If you are a collector and examine the beautiful Limoges boxes you will notice that they are always hinged. Because each one is hand painted, and porcelain shrinks, the thin metal hinges are placed individually and by hand.

The plain white porcelain Limoges boxes are truly beautiful in their simplicity and their translucence.

Those that are painted are done so by hand with specially created thin powdered paints made to aid in adding the smallest details clearly.

The hinges distinguish the difference.

Because Limoges especially fire shrinks their boxes then hand mounts them the clasp works perfectly accenting the created beauty while knock offs may appear to have defective hinges. These boxes have to be coaxed to closure, never really fitting properly while a genuine Limoges box will close properly.

You may have seen this Limoges box on a high shelf in your parent’s or grandparent’s home holding the treasured baby teeth of you or your sibling or perhaps your mother or father. A beautiful Limoges box is the perfect hand crafted gift to hold your most precious belongings and to be passed on generation to generation.