Although Europeans had mastered the arts of fire to transform clay into ceramic since 6000 b. c. and started to produce glass 1500 years b.c, it’s only in the 18th century that they finally unveiled the mystery of porcelain. Discovered in China in the 6the century, this hard, white, translucent, brilliant, and sonorous clay fascinated the western world for centuries, until its alchemy was finally understood, and its secret component was discovered: the kaolin.

Also known as kaolinite, this soft, earthy, usually white mineral, was produced by the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals. The first European exploitable deposits of kaolin were found in Germany in 1709 and then in 1768 in France, at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, near Limoges. Since then, the first porcelain was produced, and the reputation of Limoges porcelain has grown to the point where the town's name instantly evokes the art of porcelain. In 1771 the first manufacture was created, and porcelain became one of the main resources of the region and was granted royal protection from 1774.

Musée National Adrien Dubouché (Limoges) - Left : Encrier offered to the Duchess of Berry in 1828, Manufacture Pierre Tharaud Limoges - Right : Service Mauresque", porcelaine dure, decor de "grain de riz", attributed to V Célérier_Manufacture Pouyat, Limoges 1878 - © Mad'in Europe

In the following centuries the remarkable mastery and technical know-how of the Limoges manufacturers spread all over the territory and many new factories were created and launched the concept of the "Blanc de Limoges", to boast the whiteness and quality of the kaolin as well as the perfection of the manufacturing techniques.

It's no coincidence that young people from all over France still come to Limoges to learn porcelain techniques. As part of the CRAEFT project, we had the chance to visit the porcelain workshop at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Art et de Design de Limoges (ENSAD).

Musée National Adrien Dubouché (Limoges) - Left : Sélim, biscuit, manufacture Michel & Valin, Limoges1839 - Right : Corbeille ajourée, Manufacture Lesme, Limoges vers 1850 red © madineurope - © Mad'in Europe

A day in the life of ENSAD

The CRAEFT team, made of Arnaud Dubois, anthropologist from CNAM, Sotiris Manitsaris and Gavriela Senteri from ARMINES and Madina Benvenuti form Mad’in Europe, spent 2 days at ENSAD school to record gestures and understand how fire transforms a liquid mixture made of water, kaolin, feldspar and quartz into porcelain.

A day of encounters... : Marie Laure Trochon and Gilles Bonettat guided us, from the sketch to the model making, up to the final product, step by step, letting us observe the negotiation between makers and raw material.

Marie Laure and Gilles kindly accepted to let our team record their hands at work with an egocentric camera and participated in the video elicitation with our team, explaining in detail each of their gestures. They also introduced us to the secrets of porcelain making from the model to the firing.

CRAEFT AT ENSAD ! WATCH THE VIDEO

Our guides

Marie Laure Trochon is a ceramic modeller, her work consists of making models from technical drawings produced by designers. After making the plaster model, she casts a test piece which is then glazed and fired. If the piece is approved, she can move on to making the final matrix, the “mould of the mould” that enables mass production.

Gilles Bonettat technician in the pedagogical team of ENSAD, in charge of the porcelain workshop and specialist of the “blanc de blanc” production, a porcelain fired at 1380 Celsius degrees, a process which produces the transparency and bluish hue for which Limoges porcelain is renowned.

The Adrien Dubouché national Museum

One can't go to Limoges without visiting the famous porcelain museum. This extraordinary place traces the history of Limoges porcelain from the very beginning, and displays some exceptional pieces made for royal houses all over Europe. An educational area invites visitors to learn about the techniques, the tools and the styles, and to appreciate the diversity and richness of this unique heritage.

The good news is that you can all visit the museum from where you are. The application MNAD LIMOGES will guide you through centuries of ceramic production. Download the application !