A Limoges Box is a small hand-painted box made of Limoges Porcelain that has been man-made in Limoges France. The Limoges Hinged Box was invented in Paris in the early 1700's, and were popular among the French aristocracy as snuffboxes. Originally Limoge snuffboxes were considered apart of ones wardrobe. These Limoges boxes in the modern era have developed into a friendship and love collectible decorative objects or the most part Limoges Boxes today are used as a special gifts between lovers and friends and used for aesthetic and symbolic value.
    Limoges porcelain is made of a special kind of pottery consisting of the clay Kaolin, which is hardened by heating. It consists mainly of silicon oxide and aluminum oxide, with a low content of iron oxide and other metallic oxides. Limoge porcelain combines a very fine, pure, white clay (kaolin) with pulverized feldspar and quartz. The milling, sieving, and kneading of the clay is a laborious process. Limoges porcelain is often very translucent and consistently smooth in texture and often rings when it is struck.
    All true Limoges Boxes have hinges. Today's hinged are made of copper or a copper alloy and are dipped in chemicals to give the appearance of different metals. They also have a decorative clasp. Often a Limoges Box will appear defective because the hinge is off center or is doesn't close tightly. This is not so, for Limoges firing shrinks the boxes and the hinges have to be hand mounted making the matching of the hinge of the box naturally different for each individual box.
    To be authentic a Limoges Box must be made of Limoge kaolin porcelain.  A back stamp saying Limoges France is a great indication if the box is authentic. There was a law that was passed in 1841 stating that all Limoge boxes must be stamped this way. Some Limoges boxes are better quality that other depending on the degree of detail and quality of the painting, the complexity of the sculpture, and the colors which depict the knowledge, as well as number of firings. A Limoges box of greater value will always be hand-painted and marked on the bottom peint mein ("painted by hand"). Boxes that are not hand painted are decorated by transfers or decal process and can be very lovely themselves. Trust your own taste and judgment when picking out a Limoges box. Look for a piece that is painted well and detailed nicely. Look at the name of the manufacturer and ask for a certificate of Authenticity. Look at the craftsmanship of the box and judge whether you enjoy the artistry or not. This is what is really important isn't it...if you enjoy it.

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