Limoges Pots de Creme

Q: My 100-year-old mother has a Limoges tray and some cups. The tray is marked “Made in France, Hand Painted” and with conjoined script initials “CA.” It must have broken on the edge and was repaired. The cups are marked “Made in France” and “Limoges” and also have the initials “CA.” Is there any value to this set?

 

A: These “cups” are called pots de creme, little pots that hold a dessert made with cream or milk, egg yolks, sugar, and (usually) chocolate. Limoges porcelain has been made by several factories in Limoges, France, since the mid-1800s. The script initials “CA” are a mark used by Charles Ahrenfeldt & Son, a company that had a porcelain factory in Limoges about 1884. Charles Ahrenfeldt also had a porcelain decorating shop in Altrohlau, Bohemia (now Stara Role, Czech Republic), and an importing business in New York City. The conjoined initials mark was registered in 1909 and used on white porcelain. The company was in business until at least 1910. The value of the set, pots and tray, is reduced because of the damage. If perfect, it might sell for $50 to $100.

 

 

Pitkin & Brooks Coronet

Q: This 6-inch plate was given to me by my grandmother, who died in 1948. It has two marks on the back, a crown with the words “Coronet” and “Limoges, France” and another mark that says “Exclusive Design” above a circle with the words “Pitkin & Brooks, Chicago, Hand Painted.” Can you give me the history and value of this plate?

A: Porcelain marked “Coronet” and “Limoges” was made in France and sold by several different importers. Your plate was hand painted at Pitkin & Brooks, a company founded by Edward Hand Pitkin and J.W. Brooks in Chicago in 1872. The company was an importer and manufacturer of china, glass and lamps that was in business until about 1920. Plates from Pitkin & Brooks have sold for $45 to $200 depending on the decoration.

Bassett Limoges

Q: My wife and I bought a partial set of china marked "Bassett Limoges Austria." Can you tell us who made it and about how old it is?

A: This mark was used between 1890 and 1963 by George F. Bassett & Co., an importer. The company was founded in New York City by George W. Bassett in 1874. His son, George F. Bassett, and E.F. Anderson took over the business in 1879. The company had a factory in Limoges and may have had one in Austria. Porcelain was also imported from factories in Bohemia and Czechoslovakia.

D & C Mark

Q: This bowl has been in our family for many years. It's marked on the bottom, "D & C" and "France." I'd like to know more about its origin and value.

A: You have a jardiniere made by R. Delinieres & Co. of Limoges, France. The company was founded by Remy Delinieres. The mark on your bowl was used from about 1894 to 1900. Jardinieres are popular decorative items among collectors who like porcelain covered with large painted flowers. They are also practical, pretty holders for potted plants. Your jardiniere is worth $300-$400.

Limoges Vase

Q: This vase was my stepfather's and is about 6 1/2 inches high. The flowers appear to be painted on the vase. The mark stamped on the bottom is "Limoges, France" with what appears to be a number or symbol in between those two words. The words "Decoree en Perigord" are stamped above that. Can you tell me if it is an actual piece of Limoges china?

A: Limoges is a city in France where porcelain has been made since the middle of the 19th century. Porcelain factories that have operated in Limoges include Haviland, Ahrenfeldt, Guerin, Pouyat, and Elite. The mark on your vase indicates it was made in Limoges and decorated in Perigord, a region in southwest France. Some pieces of porcelain made in Limoges were shipped as undecorated “blanks” to decorating studios in Limoges and other parts of France–and even to European and American artists who worked at home.

Blakeman & Henderson Limoges dish

Q: I own this celery dish and would like to learn more about it. It's marked "Blakeman & Henderson, Limoges, France." It also has a star-like mark with "Limoges" inside it, "Limoges" above it, and "France" below. I can't find any information on the pattern or marks. Can you tell me the pattern name and something about the marks?

A: The star-like mark was used by Coiffe, a company that operated in Limoges from the 1870s to the mid 1920s. It made porcelain blanks that were decorated at other Limoges companies–although Coiffe employees may have decorated some porcelain. The star-like Coiffe mark, which collectors call "Mark 3," was used from 1891 to 1914. Blakeman & Henderson was an importer that used the script mark on your plate in the early 1900s. The pattern of your dish does not have a name. Value of the dish: about $35.

 

Limoges Delinieres Dishes

Q: I inherited a small set of dishes from my mother. There is a vase-shape mark on the bottom with “D & Co, Limoges” inside. Can you tell me who made the dishes and how old they are?

A: The mark was used by R. Delinieres & Co. from about 1881 to 1893. Remy Delinieres took over the operation of an existing company and founded R. Delinieres & Co. in 1879. Undecorated ware was made there until 1881, when the company established a decorating workshop. The company became L. Bernardaud & Co. in 1900. The image you sent us was not very clear, so the mark shown here is from “Collector’s Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain,” 3rd ed., by Mary Frank Gaston (Collector Books, Paducah, Ky., 2000).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cider Pitcher

Q: My cider pitcher is marked “J.P.” over “L.” There is also a signature that looks like “Liura W. Hardy.” Could you please tell me about its history, artist & value?

A: Your cider pitcher was made by the company La Ceramique of Limoges, France. The initials “J.P.” stand for Jean Pouyat and the “L” for Limoges. Several members of the Pouyat family were involved in the production of porcelain. Jean-Baptiste Pouyat was one of the owners of a porcelain factory in the area by 1808. His sons, Emil and Leonard, and several partners formed La Ceramique in 1883. The mark on your pitcher was used from the late 1800s until 1932. The signature is that of a decorator. Some porcelain was decorated at the factory and some pieces were sold as blanks to be decorated by artists or hobbyists. Decorating porcelain was a popular pastime for women during the 1800s. La Ceramique was sold in 1911 and became Guerin-Pouyat-Elite, which closed in 1932. Value of your pitcher: about $300-$350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AKCD Limoges

Q: Can you tell me who made this platter and how old it is?

A: Your platter was made by Klingenberg and Dwenger of Limoges, France. A. Klingenberg operated a porcelain factory and decorating studio in Limoges beginning in the 1880s. His company merged with Charles Dwenger’s decorating studio in the 1890s. These two marks were both used by the company. The first mark was used from the 1890s to 1910 and the round mark was used from 1900 to 1910. Your platter was made between 1900 and 1910, when the company went out of business.