France is an amazingly beautiful country. Which of us did not dream of visiting Paris, taking a walk along the boulevards, or taking a picture at the Eiffel Tower? Champs Elysees, Saint-Germain, Montmartre, Bois de Boulogne - from the names of these attractions blows charm and romantic beauty.
It produces French porcelain, known for its beauty. White, thin, ringing, he seemed to absorb the charm and atmosphere of the country. Products from it are in great demand at any auction, they are very popular, despite the rather considerable cost.
French porcelain: the beginning
In the old days, it was imported to France from China. Products were extremely expensive, were luxury goods and were carefully stored in the collections of the nobility. Often they were rimmed with gold or silver in order to protect them from spoilage and raise the cost. At that time they paid with silver, and a lot of this precious metal flowed to China.
Attempts to make porcelain on their own began in 1650. But so far it was just faience, which was made at the manufactories of Nevers. Painted in blue, imitating the Chinese style.
In 1673, at the Rouen manufactory in Normandy, soft porcelain samples were first obtained. Subsequently, it will be known as French. According to the characteristics, it was inferior to the Chinese, was fragile and short-lived. But it was a small victory of the masters. This porcelain was also decorated under the Chinese style.
A certain Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the main quartermaster of the factories and the arts, in 1664 opened Saint-Cloud - the Royal Manufactory. It produced French porcelain with imitation of the Indian style.
In 1686, a delegation of the Siamese Embassy arrived at Louis XIV and was presented with 1,500 delicious porcelain. The king and the nobility admired the gift, but the secret of manufacture was still unknown.
How was the "recipe" of Chinese porcelain revealed?
They learned the secret of manufacturing in France thanks to one Jesuit. He was in China, his name was Francois Xavier d'Antrecol. The Jesuit wrote letters to France to a friend of the priest. The famous Sinologist of those times, Jean-Baptiste Dualdo, published them in 1735. Francois Xavier d'Antrecolles also donated research materials.
Deposits of similar natural resources were found in Europe, and after that, in 1752, the Servsky manufactory was founded. There, for the first time, porcelain of snow-white color was created, which was no less inferior to the products of the Chinese. The manufactory became famous for its elegant tea sets and biscuits (unglazed porcelain items), and became very famous in Europe.
Also in France there was a manufactory of Chantilly. She specialized in the production of products imitating Japanese porcelain, in particular, the styles of Famille rose and Kakiemon.
In the photo below you can see a fragment of the Servian porcelain dish.
Watch a video about Servsky and Chantai china.
Limoges - the city of french china
Legend has it that one pharmacist who lived in the city of Limoges was always surprised at the dazzling white shirts of his friend's doctor. On an opportunity, he began to ask a friend what was the secret, and he told him that his wife added white clay when washing. Rumors quickly spread around the area, residents began to use it in everyday life. Information about this reached the industrialists.
Soon, not far from the clay deposit, deposits of one of the varieties of feldspar were also found, which is an important component in the manufacture of French porcelain, accounting for about one quarter of its composition.
Limoges gave rise to a huge number of manufactories and workshops. Products made from Limoges porcelain are now especially appreciated by connoisseurs for the dazzling whiteness and brightness of colors. It was here that the famous Haviland Porcelain House was born, as well as the brands Bernardaud, Raynaud Limoges and Royal Limoges.
Figurines of French porcelain. Are they magnificent in their simplicity?
What are the hallmarks for?
Below in the photo you can see samples of the stigma of French porcelain Limoges.
By stigmatizing its products, the plant notifies the buyer of the quality of the product and the traditions that have developed over the centuries. Experienced collectors and antique lovers know that brands are applied in two ways - under the glaze and on the glaze. Beginners are advised to be careful - French porcelain, unfortunately, is often faked. On the forums you can also find photos with fake brands. It is even better to consult an expert before purchasing expensive porcelain.