Limoges
French, founded 1765
Kaolin, the fine white clay essential to porcelain making, was discovered about 18 miles southwest of Limoges at St. Yrieix in 1765. The first porcelain factory in Limoges was established 6 years later in 1771. Within a few years, the factory became a brach of the royal manufacture at Sevres; porcelain blanks produced at Limoges during this period were decorated at Sevres. Production stopped in 1791 but was revived in 1797. The Baignol and Alluaud factories accounted for three quarters of Limoges production in the very early 19th Century. They were paternal overseers, and they frequently labored along side their workers.
Four porcelain factories in Limoges in 1819 increased to nine by 1824. The Limoges porcelain industry employed 800-900 workers in 1828, second only to the textile industry. Increased production and lower production costs reduced retail prices and stimulated demand. At the same time German, Spanish and Italian markets opened to French porcelain. Thus, Limoges prospered despite the economic crisis of 1826-7, although there were two bankruptcies during the 1820's.
In spite of economic crises during the 1830's and 40's, porcelain production increased dramatically, growing from 11 factories with 1,200 workers in 1837 to 27 factories with 3,166 workers in 1861. The arrival of the railway in 1856 reduced the cost of materials, and it gave improved access to new markets.
In 1842 David Haviland come to Limoges from New York seeking porcelain to import into the United States. The Haviland family had earlier emigrated from Limoges to the USA. By 1855 he had constructed an enormous factory in Limoges. The Haviland factory was the first factory to combine all phases of production, including decoration workshops.
Although Limoges had won a major share of the French market for porcelain, by the late 1850's, about half of the porcelain produced in Limoges was exported to the United States.
Person TypeRegion
English, founded c. 1800
English, founded 1680
