The Art of the Limoges Box [Hardcover]

Nancy Du Tertre (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

First invented in Paris in the early 1700s, Limoges boxes were immensely popular that century. The small, hand-painted porcelain containers were used by all types of people - secret lovers, bawdy noblemen, even political dissidents - to express their innermost feelings. The popularity of the boxes waned around 1800 when they virtually disappeared after the French Revolution; however, they have experienced numerous resurgences of interest throughout the subsequent centuries. This volume relates the history of Limoges porcelain boxes for collectors and enthusiasts alike, shedding light on the trials and tribulations, competitions and failures of the early manufacturers. Nancy du Tertre's detailed account also draws parallels between the early manufacturers and their modern-day counterparts, including tales of industrial espionage, design theft and the competing foreign porcelain markets in Germany, England, China and Japan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Before they were tucked away in curio cabinets, Limoges boxes (named for the French city in which they are fashioned) served a myriad of purposes for the people who carried them, explains Du Tertre, a collector and contemporary designer of the pocket-sized, ornately hand-painted porcelain baubles. She surveys the boxes' 300-year history, from their snuffbox origins among high society and near disappearance (along with the aristocracy) during the French revolution, to their recent return to vogue. Du Tertre also visits the artisan workshops where the delicate trinkets are created and reviews various porcelain production methods, teaching the reader how to distinguish hard and soft-paste porcelain and bone china, and the "backstamps," artisans' signature marks, that reveal where and when a piece was produced. This fine, straightforward volume is an indispensable reference for both serious and incidental admirers of the Limoges box. 216 illustrations
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About the Author

Nancy du Tertre attended Princeton University where she graduated magna cum laude with a major in romance languages. In 1986, she graduated with honors from Pace Law School in White Plains, New York. In 1993 du Tertre joined Delmarc Marketing Corporation, the New York branch company of Artoria Limoges, the largest manufacturer of porcelain giftware in Limoges, France. In addition to marketing and selling in the United States, du Tertre is the company's top designer of Limoges boxes, and she has a personal collection of Limoges boxes consisting mostly of glued broken boxes and prototypes.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810945290
• ISBN-13: 978-0810945296
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Porcelain & China

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SOUTHERN CATLADY, January 24, 2007

By 

Anne C. Thomas "SOUTHERN CATLADY" (Fayetteville,AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of the Limoges Box (Hardcover)

This book is lovely to see and fairly helpful, especially if you are a newcomer to Limoge box collecting. It has enabled me to find several of the boxes that i have and their approximate worth. Has a grat section on avoiding fakes that everyone interested in Limoge boxes should read

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Information about Limoges, May 20, 2008

By 

K. Halloran - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of the Limoges Box (Hardcover)

This is a great book for anyone interested in art, history, or Limoges boxes themselves. The well-written pages and colorful photos invoke a sense of the time and history behind these artistic pieces. It starts with the early days of snuffboxes and ends with examples of the modern counterparts, giving you a full scope of the changes and constants throughout the years. "The Art of the Limoges Box" is a great addition to any artistic library.