Antique French Limoges Porcelain Sugar Bowl with Floral Painting and Gilding (6716)

10 cm height, 18 cm width
Antique Limoges porcelain sugar bowl with hand painting Production period The bowl was made at the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century, during the Belle Époque (Beautiful Era) and Historicism period. It reflects the exquisite tea and coffee table culture, where each dish was considered a small work of art and served as an aesthetic accent in the salon during ladies’ afternoon rituals.
Manufacturer and signature An authentic, hand-drawn red stamp is preserved under the glaze on the bottom: Décor riche / tout main / Limoges (Rich decor / all by hand / Limoges), and the original artist’s signature MAZAY is visible on the side of the body. Limoges porcelain has been synonymous with quality and prestige in Europe since the 18th century, and it is precisely such hand-painted works (tout main) signed by a master that are most highly valued by collectors.
Material and finish The sugar bowl is made of high-quality, thin, and resonant white porcelain. The surface is covered with a rare, delicate sky-blue background, over which winds a gorgeous and detailed multi-colored floral decor (wild roses or anemones) with green leaves and delicate buds. The lines of the painting and the contours of the leaves are finely highlighted with golden accents. The bowl has wavy side handles, a base ring, and a twisted element on top of the lid, covered with thick, matte gold.
Use and condition This elegant, low-profile Limoges porcelain sugar bowl serves as an exquisite vessel for sugar cubes, sweets, or as a standalone, historical decoration on a dresser or in a salon. The item is in excellent antique condition – the porcelain has no cracks, chips, or signs of repair. The glaze and gold plating remain bright and intact, with very minimal, pleasant patina of age on the gilded details.
Belle Époque (Beautiful Era) moment: Princess Mathilde Bonaparte sat quietly at the small tea table as the Parisian afternoon light glided over the delicate silver spoons. In the center of the room, among the fine cups, a small, sky-blue porcelain form gleamed, filled with flowers brought by the gardener, with a rich, rose-colored floral pattern on the lid. She did not touch the bowl, but only watched as the matte gold handles caught the last rays of the sun in the twilight, as if the bowl’s natural garden warmed the entire room. The cool smoothness of the material and the warm soul of the gilded surface brought a cozy peace to the salon, and this quiet anticipation lasted long after the beautiful glow of the evening had faded.