The Limoges Porcelain box was first created in the late 1700’s in Limoges, France. They started out to be made of kaolin, a form of hard-paste porcelain before graduating to quartz and feldspar.
These boxes make as great gift items or collectibles that can be placed on your dresser, desk or simply displayed on a shelf in your home. If you plan on collecting these Limoges porcelain figurines or boxes, it is then important for you to identify the authentic ones from their imitation counterparts.
1.Look for the Stamp - The first thing to do when you come across a porcelain box is to train your eye on the bottom part. An authentic box is likely to have a hand-painted factory stamp with the ‘Limoges, France’ insignia. There should also be a printed stamp which says ‘hand-painted’ or ‘peint main’. Remember that a box with a stamped ‘C’ or ‘RC’ next to the insignia suggests that the box is an imitation manufactured in the Republic of China.
2.Observe the Design - Assess the design of the box. If it consists of animals, landscapes, people, etc., the work should look hand-painted. If the design on your box is floral, it will be a transfer decal that has been specially designed by the factory. If your design is of a fruit, it is important to be aware that Rochard Limoges porcelain makers use fruit designs that are larger than the ones used by others.
3.Observe the Glazing – Again assess the box closely. Authentic Limoges porcelain boxes are designed over and under a layer of glaze. While the glaze is typically used to protect the box, makers from Limoges also use it to add artistic effects to their pieces. This glaze can be easily identified by their shine or crackled effect.
4.Getting to Know the Makers - There are also a number of makers that produce Limoges and do not include the name in their mark. Get a list of these makers and their peculiarities so that you can identify their work.
5.Recognizing their Imagery- Also learn to recognize genuine Limoges imagery. Many manufacturers place pictures of butterflies, birds and other elements into their mark.
Finally, it is obvious that the cost between the imitation piece and the original Rochard Limoges will differ. Since the latter are made using various hand-processed manufacturing steps, they take a bit longer to be produced. This process is what one is typically paying for while investing in an original Limoges box.
These boxes make as great gift items or collectibles that can be placed on your dresser, desk or simply displayed on a shelf in your home. If you plan on collecting these Limoges porcelain figurines or boxes, it is then important for you to identify the authentic ones from their imitation counterparts.
1.Look for the Stamp - The first thing to do when you come across a porcelain box is to train your eye on the bottom part. An authentic box is likely to have a hand-painted factory stamp with the ‘Limoges, France’ insignia. There should also be a printed stamp which says ‘hand-painted’ or ‘peint main’. Remember that a box with a stamped ‘C’ or ‘RC’ next to the insignia suggests that the box is an imitation manufactured in the Republic of China.
2.Observe the Design - Assess the design of the box. If it consists of animals, landscapes, people, etc., the work should look hand-painted. If the design on your box is floral, it will be a transfer decal that has been specially designed by the factory. If your design is of a fruit, it is important to be aware that Rochard Limoges porcelain makers use fruit designs that are larger than the ones used by others.
3.Observe the Glazing – Again assess the box closely. Authentic Limoges porcelain boxes are designed over and under a layer of glaze. While the glaze is typically used to protect the box, makers from Limoges also use it to add artistic effects to their pieces. This glaze can be easily identified by their shine or crackled effect.
4.Getting to Know the Makers - There are also a number of makers that produce Limoges and do not include the name in their mark. Get a list of these makers and their peculiarities so that you can identify their work.
5.Recognizing their Imagery- Also learn to recognize genuine Limoges imagery. Many manufacturers place pictures of butterflies, birds and other elements into their mark.
Finally, it is obvious that the cost between the imitation piece and the original Rochard Limoges will differ. Since the latter are made using various hand-processed manufacturing steps, they take a bit longer to be produced. This process is what one is typically paying for while investing in an original Limoges box.
No comments:
Post a Comment