Limoges Porcelain Identification and Value Guide

When valuing Limoges porcelain, savvy dealers and collectors give high marks for top-notch decor featuring finely detailed and skillful hand painting. Pieces signed by a notable artist are also desirable. 

Examples decorated with transfers simulate hand painting but can be detected upon close inspection. They are generally not as valuable as those that are hand decorated unless the painting is very poorly executed. This can be present with some pieces that were decorated by amateur porcelain painters rather than the factory or more proficient artists. Of course, if an item decorated with transfers is extremely rare, then it can still be quite valuable.

The condition also plays an integral part in determining value. This means that a piece should be free of chips, cracks, and damage to the painting. Pieces in pristine condition will be worth far more than examples with one or more condition issues. 

The pieces in this guide are varied in terms of quality and desirability to provide an overview of the potential value of this type of porcelain. Also, keep in mind that the term Limoges references many different companies that did business in the Limoges region of France rather than one manufacturer or decorator. 

This lot included 24 dinner plates, 12 salad plates, 12 soup bowls, 12 butter and bread plates, 24 cups with saucers, and one large serving dish. The serving plates are marked on the reverse in French because the set was not intended for export. Sets intended for the American market would be stamped in English.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: Serving dish is 17 inches by 13 1/4 inches
• Selling price: $360 (Morphy Auctions, 2011)

Full sets of china are more valuable than single pieces or smaller groupings. Though many have been broken up over the years, it's entirely possible to find many beautiful complete sets such as this.

Occupational shaving mugs can be very expensive depending on the type of occupation reflected in the decor and who originally owned it. This one is inscribed in gilt "John Brandmeier," and shows a baker removing loaves of bread from the oven. It has full light blue paint on the back and is marked T&V Limoges France on the bottom. No cracks, chips, or repairs.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: 3 1/2 inches tall
• Selling price: $660 (Morphy Auctions, 2011)

The ornate painting on this piece that includes a baker adds significantly to its value. Many other mugs simply include a floral pattern or some other design that's not specific to the owner's occupation but does include his name. It's common for those pieces to sell for under $100.

Large and beautifully decorated Limoges punch sets are quite desirable. This one is marked T & V Limoges (Tressemann & Vogt) with an inscription by the decorator "Harry from Violette June 16, 1905" on the bottom. It's an exceptionally decorated set with a grape motif comprised of a large punch bowl, matching pedestal, and four sherbets or goblets.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: Punchbowl is 13 1/8 inches wide, sherbets are 3 1/4 inches wide 
• Selling price: $2,350 (LA Bazaar on Ruby Lane, 2011)

The high price of this punch set is not out of range considering the ornate painting and superior condition. For Tressemann & Vogt punchbowls alone, you'll find that they range from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

A beautiful piece, this leaf-shaped nappy is marked W.G. & Co. and hand-painted with violets. Nappies are shallow serving dishes and leaves are a popular shape for them to take. While they're also made of glass, antique china pieces such as this are very common.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: 5 3/4 inches long
• Selling price: $125 (The Porcelain Art of Limoges on Ruby Lane, 2011)

More recent listings for similar William Guerin pieces are asking a similar price as they continue to be sought after by collectors.

This American Indian chief charger plate is marked L.R.L. Limoges France. It also includes the chief's name—Chief Stranger Horse—on the back and is signed by the artist "Bazanan."

• Condition: Excellent, with only minor factory whiteware imperfections
• Size: 13 3/8 inches wide
• Selling price: $600 (LA Bazaar on Ruby Lane, 2011)

The paintings on decorative Limoges plates vary greatly and Native American examples are rather rare. You will also find chargers painted with brilliant flowers, fruits in a classic still life setting, birds, and beautiful women, often in garden scenes.

Adorned in beautiful roses, this chocolate pot was made and decorated by Bawo & Dotter (Elite Works) Limoges. It is hand-painted and signed by the artist "Felix."

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: 10 1/4 inches tall
• Selling price: $400 (The Porcelain Art of Limoges on Ruby Lane, 2011)

According to the Smithsonian, chocolate pots were used to enjoy hot chocolate before all of the modern forms the sweet treat takes today. They were made throughout the world and were primarily silver and porcelain through the 17th and 18th centuries. It wasn't until the 1950s that they saw a decline, so there are many antique pieces available. Not all will collect a price like this one, however.

This example of a Redon Limoges chocolate cup and saucer is decorated with roses. Marked with the Limoges Martial Redon Mark, it has an underglaze white ware mark in green without “FRANCE.”

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: Cup is 2 3/4 inches tall; saucer is 4 1/4 inches in diameter
• Selling price: $100 (Almy's Fabulous Finds on Ruby Lane, 2011)

Sometimes you can find a complete drinking chocolate set. It's more common to find the pot separated from the cups and saucers, which may be alone or in a set of four.

You can tell a teacup from a chocolate cup by how narrow and tall it is. Typically, chocolate cups are just 2 1/2 inches in diameter while teacups are right around three inches.

Simple and stunning, this vase is a beautiful example of Tressemann & Vogt porcelain. It has nicely hand-painted orange poppies with a glass overglaze to make the warm colors pop out from the surface.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: 13 1/2 inches tall
• Selling price: $450 (The Porcelain Art of Limoges on Ruby Lane, 2011)

The value of vases, even from the same Limoges maker, will vary greatly. The painting adds a lot to the appeal among collectors, and this one is rather unique because most have flowers against a white base. Additionally, poppies are not as common as roses, but the sale price on this is reflective of many pieces similar to it.

A bit rustic and whimsical compared to many Limoges pieces, this hand-painted platter features nicely detailed chicken and rooster decor. It is signed by the artist as "MH 1905" and marked with Haviland France.

• Condition: Excellent
• Size: 16 inches by 12 inches
• Selling price: $550 (The Porcelain Art of Limoges on Ruby Lane, 2011)

The barnyard theme is rare, so that may attribute to the higher sale price on this platter. Chargers produced by other Limoges companies with similar paintings by a different artist tend to sell somewhere around $200.

An eye-catcher, to say the least, this hand-painted Haviland Limoges plate depicts colorful fruit with a golden rim. It is artist signed "La Rue" and marked "D'Arcy's Hand Painted".

• Condition: Very good with minor surface scratches
• Size: 8 1/2 inches
• Selling price: $100 (Almy's Fabulous Finds on Ruby Lane, 2011)

Flowers are very popular on Limoges plates, but this one seems a little darker and warmer-toned than the majority on the market. While many have a white background, it's common to find Haviland plates with blue to green backgrounds and pink to rose-colored flowers. Most continue to sell for $100 to $200.

Among the more unique and higher-priced examples include misty white scenes with rare flowers like digitalis. One of these has had an asking price of over $700.