Limoges Porcelain Inkwell

This porcelain inkwell, an export piece from Limoges, France, was designed to appeal to Western decorative tastes of the late 19th or early 20th century.

Form and Material

• Material: Fine porcelain, characterized by a smooth, bright white base visible in the interior and on the base.
• Form: A circular or drum-shaped inkwell with a separate lid. It sits on a slightly raised foot. The lid  is slightly domed.
• Ink Pot: The piece has its original porcelain insert.

Decoration and Color

• Primary Color: The piece is painted in a vibrant, saturated turquoise or robin’s egg blue color, which is a classic color frequently referred to as a “bleu céleste” in fine French porcelain.
• Gilding: There is extensive gilt (gold) decoration throughout the piece:
  • A heavy band of gold encircles the rim of the body and the lid.
  • Stylized scrolling designs and decorative panels are meticulously painted over the turquoise background.
• Hand-Painted Detailing: The piece is hand-painted, as indicated by the mark “Peint Main”.

Analysis of Markings:

1. “Limoges France” (Underglaze): This is a geographical and country-of-origin mark applied before the glaze firing. It confirms the porcelain blank was made in the Limoges region of France. The use of “France” in the mark indicates a post-1891 date, when the US McKinley Tariff Act required imported goods to be marked with the country of origin.
2. “Peint Main” (Hand Painted) / “DS” (Overglaze): This mark is applied over the glaze, indicating the decorating studio or artisan.
   • “Peint Main”: This is French for “Hand Painted” and confirms the piece was hand-decorated.
   • “DS”: This would be the initials or monogram of the decorating studio or the individual artist who applied the color and gilding. Without a specific reference for this exact “DS” mark in connection with Limoges blanks, it is impossible to identify the exact studio (as many small decorating shops used Limoges blanks).

Production Date

Based on the required “Limoges France” export mark, the production date can be confidently placed in the following period:

• Production Era: Circa 1891 – Early 20th Century (approx. 1891–1920s).

This style of heavy gilding, vibrant color, and formal, decorative scrollwork aligns perfectly with Late Victorian (Belle Époque) and Edwardian tastes for elegant, ornate desk accessories.