11.09.09 02:29 PM

Limoges had been the site of a minor industry producing plain faience earthenwares since the 1730s. The manufacturing of hard-paste porcelain at Limoges was established by Turgot in 1771 following the discovery of local

supplies of kaolin and a material similar to petuntse in the economically distressed area at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, near Limoges. The ingredients were used for the production of hard-paste porcelain similar to Chinese porcelain. The materials

were quarried commencing in 1768.The manufacture was placed under the patronage of the comte d'Artois, brother of

Louis XVI and the manufactory was later purchased by the King in 1784, apparently with the idea of producing hard-paste bodies for decoration at Sèvres,

a venture that did not work out.