How Can You Determine the Value of Antique Limoges Fine China?
To determine the value of antique Limoges fine china, check the decoration against online photographs of antique Limoges china, look for authentic manufacturer’s marks on the bottom of the pieces, and estimate value based on the selling prices on online auction sites. Alternatively, take very old Limoges porcelain to a certified china appraiser, an antiques dealer or jeweler who specializes in fine china. Some online appraisal sites such as Kovels list current price guides for specific Limoges pieces.
Limoges china with a clear provenance, such as that handed down in a family for generations, is easy to date. If the pieces are in perfect condition, the rarity of design, the quality of the ornate decoration, the inclusion of serving pieces as well as dinnerware, and the fame of the factory that produces the china determine its ultimate value.
U.S. imports from 1891 on were required to identify the country of origin — in this case, France. Antique Limoges without the word “France” in the mark dates from before 1891.
Limoges marks are not secure indications of the age of the china. There were many factories in the area around Limoges that produced fine china and used the various Limoges marks as well as their own marks and the signatures of some of the more sought-after painter-decorators. But Limoges china is still made in France and marked with the Limoges name.
In addition, Limoges factories in France produced large numbers of “blanks,” plain white dishes and serving pieces shipped to America for the popular pastime of painting dinnerware. While there are beautiful pieces of independently decorated antique Limoges for sale, they typically do not command the same prices as genuine Limoges factory work.