This Haviland & Co. Limoges limited edition porcelain was produced for the 1925 Paris Exposition. I have a 64-piece set, purchased at an antiquaire near Versailles.
Arcanum - mysterious knowledge, language or information accessible only to the initiate; elixir. - Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
As the Age of Reason dawned, some of the finest minds in 18th-century Europe were on a serious mission. They hoped to discover the secret formula for transforming base metal into gold. Charlatans and nobelmen competed with kings in an epic quest for the Arcanum.
Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and elector of Saxony, had a passion for amassing beautiful objects and artifacts. But the ruler's funds were diminishing rapidly, even as his appetite for objets d'art grew.
A young alchemist called Johann Frederick Bottger seemed to be the answer to his prayers. Bottger's claims that he could produce gold intrigued the king. But suspicious of Bottger's motives, the king threw him in a dungeon in Dresden. The king promised him his freedom if he could find the Arcanum.
Alas, the young man's efforts proved futile. After years of failing to create gold, Bottger stumbled upon the formula for another precious commodity: porcelain, the pure white translucent ceramic from China.
Early in the 18th-century, porcelain was produced only in the Far East, primarily in China and Japan. While silk, lacquer and spices were imported to Europe via the Silk Road - the overland route from Asia to the West - porcelain was too fragile to survive the journey. The few pieces that arrived in the West were shipped by Arab traders through the Gulf of Arabia or the Red Sea. Organised trade existed only on a limited scale until after Vasco da Gama's voyage of discovery in 1497 opened a sea route to China.
Porcelain was regarded by Westerners as a coveted rarity of the Orient. The porcelain's rare blend of fragility and glittering hardness made it impossible to cut by ordinary steel. The few pieces that have survived were often given to rulers as papal or diplomatic gifts.
As porcelain became more popular, it was imported in larger quantities. The fashion spread from mainland Europe across the English Channel where, English writer Daniel Defoe noted, porcelain was introduced by Queen Mary. He said the Queen had sanctioned "the custom or humour, as I may call it, of furnishing houses with chinaware, which increased to a strange degree afterwards, piling their china upon the tops of cabinets... and every chimney-piece, to the tops of the ceilings and even setting up shelves for their chinaware...till it became a grievance in the expense of it and even injurious to their families and estates."
Although Mary's fondness for china contributed to its popularity, the fashion was begun before she was crowned in 1689. Queen Elizabeth I encouraged her naval captains to appropriate Spanish ships bearing treasure from the East whenever possible.
Saxony's ruler Augustus was a shrewd buyer for expensive and rare porcelain, sending representatives to buy pieces whenever a private collection came onto the market or a ship's cargo was to be auctioned. In the first year of his reign, he is said to have spent a large fortune acquiring porcelain for his royal collection.
The Oriental porcelain Augustus favoured was made from the sixth century in the northern regions of China in the Hebei province. Western travelers had long tried to learn their secrets, without success. Bottger experimented with various kaolin clays and alabasters before finding the correct formula that rivaled Chinese porcelain in its beauty.
Bottger regarded porcelain as a precious material equal to gold or silver, having little in common with other forms of utilatarian ceramics. Augustus agreed to sponsor a porcelain factory, but continued to press Bottger to find the formula for making gold.
Information for this piece was compiled from magazine articles and books on French and Chinese porcelain. Read more research-driven pieces at Sunday Scribblings.
You know, I never gave porcelain a second thought, so this was a fascinating and eye opening read for me. Thanks.
Posted by: verity writes | 20 September 2006 at 18:06
You know one of my deep pasions is china. How beautiful and different is your set. And to have such a large set, wow. One of my favorite sets I bought at a yard sale. Another, smaller set, I have from one of my aunts. It's the Haviland anniversary motif. Simple white with a gold ribbon. I am fascinated with all things china!! I think I have too much, but what the heck!
Posted by: Rosa | 19 September 2006 at 01:48
Tara,
There is always a story behind every discovery.
I hope my wife and you never go shopping together. Her love of dishes, fine china and antiques rivals your own.
rel
Posted by: rel | 18 September 2006 at 10:54
A wonderful journey of porcelain from the far East to the West. A story very well told(written!)..
Posted by: abhay | 18 September 2006 at 08:37
How intriguing!!!! I love learning! THank you girly ! Amazing how those Kings and Queens could throw you in the dungeon for ANY reason!
Posted by: Pam ARIES | 18 September 2006 at 03:00
Oh, I loved this post! So much scope for imagination. I actually knew *some* of this from reading a historical novel about the production of porcelain and bone china during World War I (and like your post, it was a lot more interesting than it sounds.)
And I adored how you tied it into alchemy and the search for the "philosopher's elixir" that would turn metal into gold.
Wonderful, wonderful as always.
Posted by: Mardougrrl | 18 September 2006 at 01:05
A wonderful lesson in history as only you can deliver it!
Posted by: Kerstin | 18 September 2006 at 00:43
Fascinating information! Your porcelain pieces shown above are absolutely beautiful!
Posted by: JavaCurls | 18 September 2006 at 00:17
Our paper plates have a great design but don't need to be washed or dusted. LOL I loved your beautiful set and the piece on porcelin :) I may not own any china but have a lovely porcelin commode. Hehehe I'm dying to hear about BB :)
Posted by: Tammy | 17 September 2006 at 23:39
What a beautiful set. I hope you don't actually use it!
Posted by: Neil | 17 September 2006 at 23:36
What gorgeous china. What luck making such a find. It reminds me of the time I found a 12 piece place setting with all the extras of Franciscanware's Apple pattern. I found it for about today's cost of about two place settings in fine stores. It's great when we run across such special things and can take advantage of the opportunity.
Posted by: annie | 17 September 2006 at 22:49
Terrific post - I loved it :)
Posted by: LuluBunny | 17 September 2006 at 21:14
Amazing how behind the surface of just about everything, there's so many interesting things to know.
Posted by: twitches | 17 September 2006 at 19:31
Interesting article, and wow!-the china is stunning.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 17 September 2006 at 16:39
hey grrl...
fascinating history lesson. i never knew!
three cheers for recycling serving pieces...
Posted by: swampgrrl | 17 September 2006 at 14:27
I love this Tara! I had no idea of M. Bottger or the history of porcelain ... very cool!
Posted by: Deborah | 17 September 2006 at 09:09
Poor Bottger! To think as lovely a commodity as Dresden porcelain had such sad, greedy origins.
Thanks for another informative and entertaining post, Tara.
xo
Posted by: tinker | 17 September 2006 at 06:27
This was a fascinating insight into something I know so little about. Thanks.
Posted by: Papyrus | 17 September 2006 at 06:13
...I always think of England when I think of fine china. I guess the connection lies somewhere in your post. Is fine china porcelain or is it ceramic...or are they the same thing? I loved the story, Tara, but now I have more questions. Oh....the price of being uncultured....
Posted by: Scott | 17 September 2006 at 05:48
This was great info...and it explains why Porcelian skin is so coveted..such a high compliment..imagine being covered with a precious metal...Such a romantic notion. A thing of beauty..is a joy forever...
Posted by: wendy | 17 September 2006 at 05:42
Terrific story. Do you wonder why humans are so obsessed with precious metals and the like? I don't get it. Why can't we be obsessed with beautiful trees and animals? Although I guess then, we would make THEM into commodities -- so I guess it is good we don't. That said, a fascinating story full of dramatic characters -- I often look for unknown figures who could make good sources of stories or plays and Bottger seems worthy of note.
Posted by: commongal | 17 September 2006 at 05:23
I so appreciate this info! I have a very similar set of limoges that I inherited through my family. This posting gives me an idea of where to start researching and indentifying, etc. :)
Posted by: Acey | 17 September 2006 at 04:08
Wow! You did a lot of work on this. Good job! You made a history lesson very interesting!
Posted by: Bug | 17 September 2006 at 03:32
Wow! Well, now we know! Good job, Tara. It is so funny to learn the history of some things. Makes it even better to enjoy it, when you know the back story.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 17 September 2006 at 03:11