The porcelain industry began in France in 1767, soon after the discovery of the true kaolin clay in Limoges, France. It was there that David Haviland, an American, relocated in 1842 to start his own company and the great Haviland tradition we know today.

In the beginning, David Haviland designed his creations with the American market in mind. Fortunately, he met painter and sculptor Felix Bracquemond and appointed him to head his studio. During this period, the studio employed the great talent from such artists as Gauguin, Ribiere, Dufy, and Cocteau, drastically changing the direction of Haviland designs and firmly establishing Haviland pieces as works of art, more than mere dinnerware.

      Because the china was hand-painted, often with custom-designs, and because fine Haviland pieces have been produced for over 150 years, there are literally thousands of patterns. In 1950, an American, Arlene Schleiger, published the first volume of "200 Patterns of Haviland China". She devised a method of numbering patterns. Her son, Richard R., made drawings of each blank and pattern. This work enabled matchers to catalogue the patterns and organize their inventory. By the time of her death in 1983, Mrs. Schleiger had published five volumes cataloguing 1,000 patterns. Her son has continues her work today.