History of Limoge Porcelain

Limoges china dates back to the late 18th century when a fortuitous discovery of kaolin clay changed the course of the region’s history. This was an essential ingredient for making hard-paste porcelain, which is fired at remarkably high temperatures and results in a luminous finish that is ideal for decoration. Capitalizing on the availability of kaolin clay, small-production porcelain factories opened in the surrounding area. It was the arrival of King Louis XIV of France in 1781, however — who purchased one of the local factories in order to make porcelain wares for his court — that catapulted Limoges porcelain’s acclaim.