Many factories produced Limoges items that were primarily elaborately molded white wares - a long way from the elaborate designs we normally associate with the name. Decorating studios outside the factory dedicated themselves to the task of Limoges design or the unfinished wares were exported without decoration of any kind. China-painting students in the U.S. and elsewhere eagerly assumed the task of adding decoration to the white wares they received from the Limoges region of France.

The quality of the decoration varied according to the skill of the finisher. Collectors have learned that high quality hand painting raises the value of the work far above one that is poorly finished. A piece signed by the artist is worth even more.

Transfers or decals that mimicked hand decorating were used on some Limoges pieces. Surprisingly, when these kinds of pieces are well done, they have more value than a badly done hand-decorated item. Generally, however, collectors prefer hand decorated pieces and are willing to pay higher prices to procure the best examples.

One early and immediate success among porcelains was the 'tabatiere' or snuff box. These appeared in thousands of different shapes and many were made of porcelain. Limoges jumped on the bandwagon. Due to the accidental fires that burned down the homes of aristocrats and clergymen, groups most likely to have snuff boxes, those that survived the French Revolution (1789-1792) carry a very high value and are eagerly sought by collectors. Porcelain boxes, both Limoges and others, have again become very popular with collectors.

The kind of Limoges porcelain found today by Americans in shops and antique malls is generally representative of the American version of 19th century Limoges. Haviland was a prominent name in the history of Limoges in America. In fact from the mid-19th century to the early 1930s Americans considered Haviland Limoges the standard dinnerware on well-set tables.

Haviland is so prominent among Limoges company names that some collectors concentrate entirely on Haviland products. Still others focus on those Limoges products available from a variety of manufacturers. A book by Mary Frank Gaston, "The Collector's Encyclopedia of Limoges, avers that collectors who look beyond Haviland "move away from the quaint dinnerware toward decorative accessories such as vases, trays and tankards generally featuring more vivid coloration and an abundance of decorative gold trim."

The quality of the decoration, the book continues, is often more important than the age of the piece, albeit both are important.

Despite the popularity of Limoges over the centuries there are few reproductions available. Nevertheless, to the delight of collectors the world over, the Limoges snuff boxes have made a remarkable comeback and are the label's most famous product. Today, however, there are roughly 20-30 porcelain factories in Limoges itself and most are specialized in certain types of porcelain such as dinnerware, giftware, and industrial porcelain.

The discovery of the beautiful Limoges porcelain is an adventure that more and more people eagerly undertake. You may let the voyage begin at our collector's e-commerce store, http://theglobalconnoisseur.com