How to Care and Maintain Your Limoges Porcelain Boxes

Whether you are passionate about collecting antique items or love adorning your home, the Limoges porcelain boxes can be valuable additions to your home vintage collections. While the beauty of these boxes with their impressive designs and exquisite artistry is something to treasure, they can also give you handsome returns at auction later on.

Whatever be your purpose of collecting these pieces of art, maintaining, and taking proper care of them is essential to keep their true worth intact. Peek at some of the things that you can do for maintaining your Limoges boxes.

Opening the Limoges Box

The very first thing that you need to pay attention to is to ensure that you do not end up damaging the hinges of the box while opening it. These are delicate items and should be handled with extreme care. When opening the box keep the metal clasp in the front and place your thumbnails in between the metal rims, pulling them gently in opposite directions.

Remember, the metal clasp is for the purpose of decoration and therefore pulling it may cause it to tamper. You should never use any sharp object like knife while trying to open the box, nor try to pull the porcelain. Just as you had been gentle in opening the box be considerable in closing it too.

General Care and Maintenance

Like any objects of décor at your home, your Limoges porcelain products also require little bit of regular maintenance which can be as trivial as mere dusting. However, since the objects are ethereal, you have to use a soft cloth to ensure that the painting is not maimed or scratched in the process. For occasions, you can simply wipe off the additional dust with a soft cloth.

Removing Stains

Upset about those stains, which marred the beauty of your glistening white Limoges box?  Do not worry, for there is a remedy for this too. For this, all you need to do is fill up a dishpan or a sink with sufficient padding on sides with warm water and 2 tablespoons of mild detergent or dishwashing liquid along with a one-fourth cup of cleaning powder.

The latter should be free from ammonia, chlorine, bleach and solvents as these ingredients are harsh and a strict no-no on such delicate porcelain figurines and boxes. Let your porcelain boxes to soak for about 20 to 30 minutes when you can see the stains disappearing. If the stains are deep-rooted and have gone inside crevices, you can go for a repetition of the process. Once the stains disappear, simply wash the items with warm water, and pat dry with a soft towel.

One final tip, it is always worthwhile to test whether your Limoges boxes are not getting tampered further and is compatible with the solution. Test it out with a soaked cotton ball on a smaller area.

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.

Collecting Vintage Limoges Boxes as Objects to Cherish

Rochard Limoges boxes are some of the finest pieces of art that can be true items of beauty to your treasure trove of collectibles. The beautiful things carved in exquisite figurines and miniature models have created much mayhem in the recent years with connoisseur collectors of vintage and antique items going gaga over these French porcelain trinket boxes. However, the world is fraught with duplicate reproduction of original masterpieces and the Limoges boxes are no exception. If you are a first-time buyer of the vintage Limoges boxes, here is a quick guide to buying genuine stuff.

Features of Genuine Limoges Boxes

In order to ensure that you are keeping your hands on a genuine Limoges boxes, you need to be enlightened about the features and attributes, which mark off a true Limoges product.

• One of the main specialties of a Limoges box is its immaculate artistry and painting which is exclusive painted by hand and is in perfect proportion depicting an intricate detailing with portrayal of particular scenery. Hence, if you notice the décor of the items to be botched and slipshod, you can bet you were eyeing a fake Limoges box.
• Antique Limoges boxes bear no flaws and to ensure that even the spelling of the name “Limoges” is correct, you need to carry a magnifying glass.  This will also reveal things like the manufacturer’s or artist’s name or symbols which reflect the same. In fact, it is essential to be aware of the various symbols that authorized manufacturers of Limoges products use such as butterfly for R. Laporte over the initials RL and L, bird for Martin Freres and Brothers, Rochard for Rochard Limoges boxes and the likes.
• Contrary to popular belief real Limoges boxes are extremely light in weight, while giving out a shine which is typically found in Limoges products only. You also need to pay careful attention to the hinges which should be perfectly smooth while opening and closing.
• If you are looking for limited edition Limoges boxes, they should bear numbers, which depict the number of molds manufactured and the number that every piece of mold came with in the production.

Other Things to Consider
 

For the most genuine Vintage Limoges boxes of impeccable quality, go for the ones bearing the words “peint mein” which means the painting was performed completely by hand or “décor mein” that signifies decals or transfers were used, which were however, positioned by hand. You can also witness differences in the makes and designs of different artists and factories. While those of Artoria or Rochard use up brisk painting with splashing of bright hues, boxes by Chanille or Dubarry bear a more expressionistic approach with warmer colors.

Because of the huge amount of detailing which goes on in the creation of these wonderful pieces of art, it is obvious that Limoges boxes will cost you a handsome amount. However, once you have one in your repertoire of collectibles, you are sure to go hunting for more, even if that means shelling out several more dollars.

FAQs on Limoges boxes for collectors

Limoges boxes are beautiful works of art. The original Rochard Limoges boxes are still manufactured in the region called ‘Limoges’ in France. Like all collectible items, there are many questions one might have about these items in order to familiarise one’s self with this unique work of art. Also, many impersonations also available in the market, therefore one must know how to distinguish the original from the fake. Here’s a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about Rochard Limoges boxes that collectors and enthusiasts seek for -

1.Are all Limoges boxes of the same quality?

No, they are not. Limoges boxes are made using white clay or kaolin, and all boxes which are manufactured in the Limoges region of France are indeed called authentic Limoges boxes. However, different manufacturers do use different materials and techniques for making these boxes, therefore the quality may vary between these. Along with the quality, naturally, the price would vary too. A Limoges box manufactured by the best and authentic artists, using fine quality moulds, paints and additional accessories would naturally cost one more than a box made using cheaper means.

2.Are Limoges boxes available in limited editions?

Yes they are. Vintage Limoges boxes made in a particular shape or design may have a limited number because usually the manufacturers throw away the moulds after these many are manufactured. At the bottom of the Limoges box, you can usually find a number which indicates the number for that particular design. The numbers are counted backwards, so a box number 5 is usually manufactured before box number 4 and so forth. However, you can find numbers greater than 500 which indicate that as many moulds could have been used to manufacture that particular design.

3.What are Chinese and American Limoges boxes?

They are not Vintage Limoges boxes for one. A Limoges box can only be called an original Limoges box if it is manufactured in Limoges of course! The special porcelain which is used in the original Limoges boxes is only found in the French region, and the porcelain used to make such boxes anywhere else in the world is different in texture, consistency and other factors to its original counterpart from France. There is a specific identification mark which you can find on the bottom of an original Limoges box which can distinguish it from an imitation. Be sure to look out for it.

Limoges boxes are amongst the most popular gift and decoration items, and a specialty from France which is exported to most countries around the world. They are beautiful, rare and exquisite works of art.

Best ways to use Limoges boxes

Original Limoges trinket boxes are some of the most famous collectibles that art lovers appreciate throughout the world. These beautiful miniature boxes are named after the region of France in which they were manufactured. Available in a wide array of shapes and colours, these trinket boxes are great gifts to give to family and friends for all occasions. They can also be used for a variety of other creative purposes. Some of them are:

1.As a ring box:  Whether you are proposing to a loved one with an engagement ring, or carrying the bride and groom’s wedding rings to them on their big day as the ring bearer, trinket boxes can be used as beautiful  places to place the ring to be presented. Since they come in a variety of shapes, one can find a shape that’s just right for the occasion- perhaps a heart-shaped box for a loved one or a chocolate shaped box if your lover has a sweet tooth!

2.As a snuff box: Snuff is a kind of mild tobacco which is a powdery substance available in many flavours, such as menthol, spice, cinnamon, mint, fruit, camphor etc. If you are planning a gift for someone who is an ardent snuff fan, you may consider giving a Limoges box which as be used by them as a snuff box. Since Limoges boxes are small, one can easily fit it into ones pocket as a snuff box and carry it around wherever they may go.

3.As a mini perfume bottle: Trinket boxes serve as great scent cases as carried in this way, the scent becomes extremely personalised and one doesn’t have to use common bottles available in the market! You can simply pour the liquid into the snuff box and apply it with your fingertips. Again, since Limoges boxes and small and portable, it can be carried easily in ladies’ purses and taken around with them. It also keeps people guessing as to what perfume brand you are wearing if you carry the scent in your own personalised container!

4.As a bonbonniere: A bonbonniere is a small box used for carrying confectionery or chocolate. According to an ancient European tradition, these were distributed to guests at weddings as gifts and contained small delicacies, such as expensive chocolates or mints. Italians used to distribute almonds in them as well at their weddings.

Limoges trinket boxes are not only beautiful, but serve as wonderful gifts as well. They have a multitude of uses, and almost everyone can find a special place for them in their home.

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.