10 Simple techniques to find and buy Limoges boxes
1. Check for authenticity One thing holds true of Limoges boxes, they can be really susceptible to fraud resulting in a lot of manufacturers creating counterfeits in the hopes of making a quick buck from the sales they may make off of them. When checking for the authenticity of a Limoges box, there are two things you should pay attention to. The first thing is the box should have a signature of its. artist/creator either at the bottom of the box or inside. Another thing is the box should be made only in Limoges in France. So, if you go on eBay and see a ‘Limoges box’ which is made in China or any other country, then it’s probably a fake.
2. Make sure the box is high quality Quality is yet another key thing to take note of when buying a Limoges box. This sentence alone would have been enough to explain the tip, but I feel I have to elaborate a bit more on the issue of quality. There are a lot of factors that influence the quality of Limoges boxes, the most important ones being the quality of the porcelain used for the boxes and the way the artwork is done in the boxes. To err on the side of caution with regards to quality when buying a Limoges box, it’s better to work with a with a dealer who is connected to the top artists in Paris.
3. Study and know the brands If you ask most people if Limoges is a brand, they will possibly say yes and feel very confident while doing it. Well, let me burst the bubble. Limoges is not a brand but a city based in France. The boxes however are called Limoges boxes because they are only produced in one city in the world, and that is Limoges in France. There are a lot of factories and independent artists based in this city who produce these boxes which explains why they are called Limoges boxes. It’s important for you to be familiar with brands such as Artoria, Rochard and Charmat so that you’ll always be in the loop and make an informed buying decision.
4. Know how to differentiate between hand painted and machine painted boxes If you look at specific Limoges boxes, you will notice some words differ depending on the box you’ll be holding. If the box you are considering to buy has the French words, ‘Peint Main’, then it’s hand painted and more likely to be authentic. Apart from ‘Peint Main’ another word you can look for is ‘Rehause Main’ which means the box was initially decorated using decals and later on enhanced by hand and more likely to be authentic.
5. Understand the reason behind the pricing If there is one thing about Limoges boxes, it’s the fact that they are incredibly expensive. So, when wanting to buy one, consider it a red flag if you see it going for a price like $10. The reason behind the high prices of Limoges boxes is they are hand crafted by very skilled people who invest hours to just produce a single box. This massive time investment put only into a single box justifies their high pricing.
6. Consider the location of manufacture I had touched a bit on this under the 2nd tip but it’s worth mention again. Limoges boxes are named have Limoges in them because they are only made in Limoges, France. Anything else is fake unless if it is coming from the Limousine region in France where Limoges is located.
7. Buying a vintage Limoges box? Look into these things Some sellers might be selling old Limoges boxes that are considered to be vintage collectibles which is okay by the way. Such boxes might be a bit difficult to check for authenticity because its style of design might be obsolete. In such a case, the best way you can confirm the Limoges box is by referencing the location to ensure it was made in Limoges. If it was, them it’s likely to be authentic.
8. Make sure to buy from the right website There are over 10 million e commerce websites on the internet today and I’m pretty sure a significant fraction of those websites sell Limoges boxes as well. If you want to safeguard yourself from buying counterfeit Limoges boxes, then start by looking into credible sites that import their boxes directly from Limoges. Also, the sites you work with should come with a 100% authenticity guarantee.
9. be careful with direct sellers You will come across a lot of direct sellers who will also be selling Limoges boxes. Some of them will even be selling through the sites above. When working with such a seller look into them and do your homework including investigating if they have links with the artists in Limoges so that you ensure that the item you purchase would always be authentic.
10. Know why they are important Although this tip is not directly related to purchasing, I believe it’s vitally important for you to understand why Limoges boxes are important before you buy them as this can help you make an informed decision and take the issue of their originality seriously. Simply put, Limoges boxes are used for the purposes of decorations. They are also made for holding jewelry like rings, necklaces and earrings.