Limoges is famous worldwide for its porcelain. Let us start with a
brief history of Porcelain
It is near Limoges that during the 18th century Kaolin was found:
Kaolin this pure white calcareous ground brought to porcelain the
whiteness and transparency to light that the Chinese knew of centuries
before. In the 13th century, Marco Polo discovers it during his travel
to the Far East. He gives it the name of Porcelain, even though this is
the name of the "mother of pearl" found on seashells. Thereafter
plates star showing up on the tables of Europe, replacing little by
little the pieces of bread, on which meat was laid. They are made of
clay and precious metals from India and also beautiful ceramic from
China, brought back by travelers. A need is born.
In the 17th century, the British and the Dutch take over the trade and
start their famous East India Companies. In 1664, under Colbert, France
starts its own "Compagnie Francaise des Indes Orientales". It
imports thousands and thousands of porcelain pieces from China, most of
them table ware that are bought by rich people. Europe tries to
manufacture itself this wonderful ceramic. But however hard he tries,
it fells for lack of the one essential component, the mysterious
component: that seems to only be found in china. If it cannot copy the
Chinese Porcelain, Europe will try and get close with a near porcelain
called: Porcelain tendre (soft paste porcelain) made without Kaolin. It
is not a perfect substitute for the Chinese porcelain.
Nevertheless manufacturing takes place all over Europe, in Italy,
France (St Cloud, Chantilly, Vincennes, and the "Manufacture Royale
de Sevres" setup on the instigation of Madame de Pompadour). Search
for Kaolin continued all along. It is in Saxony that it is first found
in the early 18th century; the "Electeur de Saxe" setup in Meissen
in a well-guarded mysterious fortress a Royal Manufacture. Both the
kaolin quarries and the manufacturing are jealously kept hidden under
threat of death. For the first time in Europe, China's secret has
been penetrated and of course, Meissen's secret eventually seeped
out.
In 1766, Kaolin is found near Saint Yriex in Limousin, France; it is
the "Eldorado". Everybody digs and believes he has struck it rich.
Everywhere, people are searching, digging, sifting, washing... In
Limoges, Superintendent Turgot encourages the manufacturers, for he
sees here a source of prosperity for his region known to be pour.
On July 11th 1786, in a place called Marcognac, after a long and
careful search, François  Alluaud, the kings geographical engineer
(our Ancestor), recently appointed manager of the floundering " Conte
d'Artois Manufacture", identified what seemed to be an abundant and
accessible supply of Kaolin. He starts here a new company. It
flourishes; he eventually passes on to his sons and it will stay in his
family, our family, for 200 years. During these years, we have been an
active participant in the expansion of the porcelain industry over the
following two centuries.

Do you have any questions about LIMOGES?