ORBIS city intelligence

Buying in Limoges: Porcelain, and One Loafer

Limoges porcelain is a place rather than a manufacturer, so the three houses here compete on the same kaolin tradition. The fourth shop makes shoes. Decide before setting out which of those two things you came for.

Royal Limoges: the confirmed address, at 28 rue Donzelot S1

Heritage Limoges tableware is the trade here, and this is the street address on this page. Start here if you want to see the tradition before comparing prices.

Ask which pieces are hand-decorated and which are transfer-printed, because both are sold as Limoges. Ask about shipping rather than carrying a service home.

Philippe Deshoulières: outlet pricing is worth taking seriously S2

Factory-outlet pricing on porcelain deserves attention, because the difference between first quality and a small glaze flaw is usually invisible on a dinner table.

Ask what the second-quality mark actually indicates on each piece. Inspect rims and foot rings yourself before deciding, since that is where flaws show.

Artoria Limoges: the object rather than the place setting S3

Artoria shapes Limoges porcelain into bottles and decorative objects instead of tableware. Come here if you want something to look at rather than eat from.

Ask which pieces are limited and which are standing production. Ask about packing, since decorative porcelain breaks more easily than tableware does.

J.M. Weston: the 180 loafer, and a proper fitting S4

The 180 is the model that made this house a French reference. Ask to be measured rather than choosing by your usual size, since welted shoes fit differently.

Ask about resoling before buying, because that is what the price is partly for. Ask how long the shoe takes to break in if you need it for a specific date.