French White Porcelain Trays with Gold Decoration from Haviland & Co Limoges, 1902, Set of 2

Pair of elegant white Limoges porcelain trays; they are rectangular in shape but the rim has been skillfully shaped and shaped in a personal, refined, and sophisticated manner; the beautiful white porcelain has been embellished in a refined manner with exquisite and elaborate handmade pure gold floral decorations arranged with extreme aesthetic taste. The trays were made between 1902 and 1910 in Limoges, France, by the firm Haviland & C.ie. Contrary to popular belief, Limoges does not indicate a factory, but a production area comprising several manufacturers all located in central France. Its fortunes began with the discovery of kaolin deposits near the town, purchased by King Louis XVI, who granted the privilege of manufacturing the first factory in 1711. During the nineteenth century, the number of factories grew, and it was in 1842 that David Haviland, founding his factory, made Limoges, the porcelain capital of the world, a cradle of art without limits. David began to write the history of the Haviland family, a name synonymous with the art of French luxury that has endured to the present day. David Haviland was a skilled American merchant who set up a company to import pottery and porcelain in 1838 in New York; in 1842 he decided to settle in Limoges, where thanks to him porcelain experienced unprecedented flowering. David Haviland became world-famous for his innovative eye and creative genius, so much so that in 1864 he turned out to be France's most important porcelain manufacturer. David Haviland was always eager to push the limits of know-how. He perfected decorative techniques and equipped his manufacturer with revolutionary machines. The world's greatest royal families and heads of state succumbed to the exceptional charm and prestige of this porcelain. These include the wife of Napoleon III, Empress Eugenie, President Jacques Chirac, Prince Rainier of Monaco, as well as Presidents Roosevelt and Lincoln, to name a few. Maison Haviland has been listed as a French brand of enormous excellence for over 175 years, sublimating the finest restaurants in the world's most important palaces, such as the Ritz and Shangri-La Hotel in Paris, Le Dorchester in London, and even the Parisian Hotel Crillon. Haviland's artisans have managed to preserve, pass on and keep their craft alive by combining tradition and modernity. At Haviland, it is the daily passion that builds the success of the Maison, with which they continue to write their legend. Haviland remains one of the few porcelain manufacturers that ensures that 100 % of its production, is entirely produced in Limoges; from manufacturer to creation. Every single decoration is still produced by hand with gold and perfect precision. More than 5000 different decorations have been created by the manufactory, since its founding, always guaranteeing perfect and prestigious workmanship. Measures width cm.27, depth cm.17, height cm.3. The items are in good condition.