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Royal Limoges, two centuries shaping the language of porcelain
Founded at the close of the eighteenth century, Royal Limoges has been navigating history for more than two hundred years. As the oldest porcelain manufacturer in Limoges still in operation, the house tells a story in which material, gesture and technique hold a central place. Beyond tableware collections, decorative objects and prestigious commissions lies the everyday reality of a company shaped by the very real constraints of porcelain. It is a story built on continuity, adaptation and an ongoing dialogue between industrial heritage and contemporary creation.
A porcelain story rooted along the River Vienne
Royal Limoges
In Limoges, porcelain grew out of its territory. From 1816 onwards, the manufactory settled along the banks of the River Vienne, allowing wood—used to fuel the kilns—to arrive by river transport. Kaolin came from nearby quarries, the paste was prepared on site, and the workshops were organised around this principle of autonomy. The historic site still houses a nineteenth-century brick kiln, now listed as a historic monument, offering a direct link to Limoges’ porcelain-making past. “Porcelain developed here through a very practical organisation, closely connected to natural resources and local expertise,” explains Martin Delaygue, Financial Director at Royal Limoges. This close relationship between raw material, production and decoration shaped the manufactory’s identity long before it became known as Royal Limoges.
Royal Limoges
Royal Limoges
Art Deco and growing international recognition
Royal Limoges
At the end of the nineteenth century, the manufactory entered a new chapter under the name G.D.A., embracing the emerging Art Deco aesthetic. Forms evolved, lines became lighter, and porcelain turned into a medium of expression for decorators and artists. A defining moment came in 1925 at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris, where the Apollon form—now known as Nymphéa—was awarded the Grand Prix. This recognition opened the door to international markets. By the 1930s, the manufactory employed more than a thousand people, supplying both French tables and prestigious venues abroad. This period firmly established Royal Limoges within a dynamic exchange between creation, design and global distribution.
Production and decoration within a single site
Royal Limoges
Today, Royal Limoges brings together makers and decorators within a single site. This organisation allows each piece to be followed from initial design through to final finish. Porcelain presents numerous technical challenges, from firing temperatures to the way colours react in the kiln. Each order requires precise adjustments, sometimes through several trials. “Clients often present technical challenges, whether in the shape or the decoration. We move forward by finding solutions,” notes Martin Delaygue. The manufactory supplies prestigious hotels and restaurants, including the Plaza Athénée, Le Meurice and Le Bristol, as well as an exacting international clientele. Bespoke production has become part of everyday practice, shaped by constant dialogue between the workshops and those who commission the pieces.
Royal Limoges
Royal Limoges
Creating today, within a long tradition of porcelain
Royal Limoges
Royal Limoges’ current collections span a wide range, from table services and decorative objects to lithophane candle holders and tea sets. A significant share of production is exported to the United States, the Middle East and Asia, where Limoges porcelain remains closely associated with French excellence. Alongside this, the manufactory is developing new projects with contemporary artists. “The challenge lies in translating their universe into porcelain, while respecting its constraints,” says Martin Delaygue. More than two centuries after its founding, Royal Limoges continues to write a story defined by continuity, experimentation and an ongoing exchange between technique and creation.
- Royal Limoges
- 54 rue Victor Duruy 87000 Limoges
- https://www.royal-limoges.fr/
