Hobbies And Interests
History
In 1765, kaolin was discovered in St. Yrieix, just south of Limoges. This fine white clay is the base of fine porcelain and was thought to only exist in China. Limoges was already the home of potters and artisans. The city had been famous for its earthenware products for some time. The first porcelain produced there was commissioned by King Louis XVI and Limoges became a branch of the royal manufacture.
Geography
The city of Limoges is located in the Limousin province of France, about 160 miles south of Paris. This area was ripe for the porcelain industry for several reasons. First, and most significant, was the area's kaolin deposits. This rare natural resource gave it an advantage over other areas that would have had to import the precious material that was found naturally deposited at St. Yrieix. Also, Limoges had large forested areas nearby that provided the wood resources necessary to power the porcelain kilns. Finally, the area had poor, infertile soil. This deficit in the land made agriculture a hard lifestyle. Many workers in the area were therefore willing to leave the agricultural industry to go to work in the factories built for the creation of porcelain.
Growth
After the establishment of the first royal manufacture, the porcelain industry in Limoges continued to grow and became largely privatized. By 1819, four factories had been built and this number had more than doubled five years later. By 1828, the Limoges porcelain industry was said to employ more than 800 workers and was the second largest industry in the area. In 1861, there were 27 factories, employing over 3,000 workers. By this time, most of the Limoges factories had switched from wood to coal as a fuel source for their kilns.
Production
There were multiple steps in the production of Limoges porcelain. First, workers extracted the kaolin from the ground and transported it to a mill or refinery. It was then dried and cleaned to insure that it was pure. Workers ground down the kaolin so that it had a smooth texture and was fine enough to pass through a silk screen. Moist or pasty clay was then formed into balls and taken to the porcelain factories. At the factory, the clay was kneaded and beaten to remove pockets of air and then molded. The shaped clay was then baked in a low-temperature kiln. It then went through an individual series of glazings, paintings and refirings to provide it with the finished decorative look desired.
Types
A number of products were made from Limoges porcelain, including serving platters, dinner service, pitchers, ewers, decorative pieces, embellishments and snuff boxes. These snuff boxes, called "tabatiere" in France, became extremely popular. They were decorated by a number of great artists and were hinged in brass. Today, they are highly coveted collector's items.