A Beginners Guide to Collecting Smartly

Collecting is many times a decision that is made unconsciously. Chances are that you simply realize one day that you have a good number of vintage Christmas ornaments over the years or a significant number of Limoges porcelain boxes that can now safely be known as a collection.

Over a period of time, you may also convert this into a conscious effort to transform your existing collection into something meaningful and probably even valuable. If this is the road you intend to tread onto, you need to make sure you do it the smart way.

1.Is this Item Collectible?

A collectible means different things to different people. For some it may mean simply storing a collection of stamps or coins that they happened to own by chance. The more serious collectors will be able to give you a more detailed story behind the challenges they faced on their quest to create their Limoges porcelain box collection or authentic miniature car collection. The prospect of an appreciation in value is usually the determinant of whether or not an item is collectible.

2.Choosing what to Collect

While no one can really tell you what to collect, remember that your selection should be something you are personally attracted to and something you will love to look at. Also, it does not always have to be one item. It could be a theme that appeals to you as well. For example, if you love elephants, you may want to pick up paintings, porcelain boxes, kitchenware and other home décor items that follow that theme.

3.Buying with your Heart

The best collections are created when collectors buy from their hearts. If there is something you truly love that is affordable, do not deter while purchasing it. Your collection needs to be something you will be able to enjoy and live with. Leave the profit making to the experts.

4.Investing in Limited Editions

Depending on the item you are collecting, you may be able to pick up some limited edition items en route. For example, you may find vintage Limoges porcelain boxes with designs that are no longer in the making, or you can hunt for limited edition wine bottles, if that is what you are collecting.

5.The Condition of the Item

As easy as it may be to ignore the hairline crack on the porcelain plate, remember that the condition of your collection will significantly influence the value of your collection. Only invest in the items that come in the best condition.

In addition to this, while collecting items remember to keep the original boxes, be well informed about how you can maintain them and conduct comprehensive research before and during the collection process to make sure you are getting value for the investment you are making.

Tips to Identify an Authentic Limoges Porcelain Box

A porcelain box looks simply exquisite. The production of the Limoges porcelain boxes dates back to the late 1970s. They were produced for the first time in the city of Limoges in France. The initial production used kaolin clay as the raw material for these boxes. However, later the manufacturers graduated to the use of feldspar and quartz for creating these one of a kind boxes.

These boxes are popular as gift items as well as collectibles and if you too want to have a collection of your own, it would be a wise idea to learn how to distinguish an authentic porcelain box from a fake one. Whether you are buying a box or figurine as a gift item or as a showpiece for your home or office, make sure that you keep the following tips in mind before loosening your purse strings.

Check the stamp on the box

One of the most common identification marks for a genuine Limoges porcelain box is the factory stamp that is painted by hand at the bottom of the piece. You will be able to see the ‘Limoges, France’ insignia clearly on an authentic piece. That apart, a printed stamp that reads ‘peint main’, meaning hand painted, will also be there at the bottom of the figurine or box.

You can spot a fake easily by the ‘C’ or ‘RC’ stamp printed at the bottom of it. This means that the piece is a mere replica that has been manufactured in China or the Republic of China. Do not be fooled into buying such a piece at a premium price. It would also help you to know the well-known makers of these boxes and their product stamps.

The imagery and design provide other clues

The most common designs that you will find on authentic Limoges porcelain boxes are those of fruits, flowers, people, animals, and landscapes. Check the design closely to see if it appears to be hand painted. To add to it, some common elements of imagery that you will find on a real Limoges porcelain box are colorful birds and butterflies. Most experts are trained in recognizing the imagery and the glazing on genuine kaolin clay pieces.

Compare the prices

The last and most obvious clue to the authenticity of a porcelain piece can be found in its price tag. An original porcelain box will be more expensive due to the labor-intensive manufacturing process that it entails, whereas a knockoff will be sold at dirt cheap prices.

Follow the tips mentioned above to buy an authentic piece that will last forever.. Do not be fooled into purchasing a fake one with your hard-earned money.

Getting to know your Limoges Porcelain Boxes

Catch a movie portrayed at the background of 18th century Europe and you are sure to notice the beautiful white snuffboxes, intricately designed, which the damsels flaunt. Those are the exquisite Limoges porcelain boxes made of special white clay known as Kaolin, which became predominant in Europe in the latter part of the 18th century.

The clay is only found in and around the region of Limoges in France and is at par with their Chinese counterparts with regard to excellence in quality. Today, this impeccable porcelain is produced by Limoges factories, as well as individual artisans. These people are dexterous at carving such exclusive works of art, in the Limoges city and region. Here is a sneak peek into the history and other special aspects of a Limoges porcelain box.

What is a Limoges Box

Limoges boxes are beautifully hand-crafted and hand-painted objects made of porcelain with the hard white clay Kaolin forming one of the main ingredients. These come in a variety of decorative pieces such as those portraying musical instruments, religion, hearts, games, fruits and vegetables, animals, wine and spirits, monuments and what not. They are miniatures mostly ranging between 2 to 3 inches in size and some as small as 1 inch by half inch. There are limited editions also which bear special numbers mentioned along with the artist name under the boxes.

History of Limoges \ Boxes

Before Kaolin, a silicate of aluminum was unfathomed in the region of Limoges in France, near St. Yrieix; the Europeans were completely oblivious of the fact that any such ingredient could be found. Hence, for many long years they had to be contented by producing soft paste porcelain, which was no way near to the excellent quality porcelain that China was proud about.

The production of Kaolin porcelain won the fancy of the mistress of King Louis XV Madame De Pompadour who in turn set up The Royal Factory of Sevres, which became famous throughout the globe for producing the finest porcelain. By the 19th century many Limoges factory had started blossoming because of the high demand of the boxes among the nobility and the low production cost due to the easy availability of wood reserves and labor.

Gradually the Limoges Hinged Boxes came into vogue and were used by prestigious personalities for keeping their precious items like gold, diamond, rings, and even tobacco and love letters.

How are Limoges Boxes Manufactured

Manufacturing a Limoges Porcelain box is a time-consuming and meticulous process whereby the assiduous artists create a master mold, which is then worked on for making designs with paints and colors, all done by hand. The porcelain mold thus created is then made to undergo several rounds of firings and glazing at 1400C for lending the objects the immaculately white finish. The process culminates in placing the metal hinges for operating the boxes.

With their impeccable designs and exquisite demeanor, the Limoges Porcelain boxes make the perfect gift for any occasion, whatsoever.

How to Identify an Authentic Limoges Porcelain Box

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.