In the mid 18th century a deposit of Kaolin was discovered by Jean Baptiste Darnet in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, a small commune approximately 40km south of Limoges. Kaolin rocks contain a white clay that is typically combined with other raw materials (usually petuntse) to make hard-paste porcelain. This is done by heating the materials in a kiln to temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees.
Hard-paste porcelain originated in China during the 9th Century. It was typically made in China from as early on as the 9th Century. In the 18th Century the secret for hard-paste porcelain was discovered by a German alchemist and the porcelain industry took off in Europe. During this period the area surrounding Limoges was over-taxed and included some of the poorest parts of France. The local 'intendant', or King's tax collector, was Anne Robert Jacques Turgot. Turgot dedicated a considerable amount of time and effort to improving the local industries and economy. In his eyes the discovery of Kaolin, the first find of its kind on French soil, presented the perfect opportunity to develop Limoges's industries. The French ceramic industry was launched and so the manufacture of porcelain began in Limoges.
The factory was bought by King Louis XVI shortly before the French Revolution. After the revolution, at the turn of the 19th Century, several private establishments were set up including Royal Limoges, Bernardaud and Haviland. Consequently the term Limoges porcelain refers not to a single factory but instead all porcelain made in the town of Limoges.
Cheaper manufacturing costs mean that today Limoges-style porcelain is reproduced in certain countries in Asia and sold on for a fraction of the French price. Despite this, the porcelain industry in Limoges is still going strong. The town of Limoges is the most famous producer of porcelain in France, with the majority of French porcelain originating from there.
Today Limoges porcelain is exported around the globe and it is available in most large department stores. Although there is a certain satisfaction in hunting down bargains and touring factory shops in Limoges, the real magic lies in visiting the birthplace of the porcelain industry itself. In the 1990s when the Bernardaud company became globalised, the Limoges factory was renovated and opened to the public. This factory has conserved most of the original workshops and contains the first tunnel oven built in Limoges. Today it is a cultural gathering place for both tourists and artists alike.
At the end of the 19th Century a series of round ovens for porcelain were built at the Casseaux factory. Today the Royal Limoges headquarters are based there and it is possible to visit the one remaining oven that is still in existence. It is known as 'Le Four Casseaux' and it was taken out of service in 1955. There is also a sociological exhibition on site which contains both photographs and videos detailing the different jobs done in the creation of porcelain and demonstrating the working conditions for those who worked with the ovens.
As well as the many factory museums, Limoges is also home to the Musée National Adrien Dubouché and the Musée Municipal de l'Evêché which both have fine collections of Limoges porcelain on display.