Always lovely - whether at holiday dinners or every-day family meals - the gracious charm of American Limoges dinnerware. (from a 1948 newspaper advertisement featuring the June Rose pattern)

{HISTORY}

Debuting in the late 1940s, this pair of pretty floral soup bowls was made by American Limoges for their June Rose pattern.  Manufactured during a sweet spot in A.L. history when they were opening retail stores around the country, this boom to their business would only last a few years before they stopped production and closed their doors permanently. That makes this rosy pink and red floral pattern one of the last examples of American Limoges' beautiful designs aimed at mirroring European porcelain manufactured in Limoges, France. 

Containing a gorgeous array of big and small flowers tucked in with a pair of contrasting pink roses, it's easy to see how the pattern got its name. A beautiful summer bouquet worthy of warm-weather weddings and cottage gardens, colors include shades of mint, pale blue, mustard, bubblegum, grey, raspberry, and pale pine. That's the kind of color arrangement fit for a decorator's playground when it comes to mixing and matching tableware, linens and floral centerpieces. 

That's because American Limoges knew a thing or two about artistic displays. Their muse was always the beautiful porcelain designs found on French Limoges dishware. Founded in 1900 in Sebring, Ohio, American Limoges was originally known as the Limoges China Company.  They specialized in thin-walled china for the American market with a belief that American porcelain-style dishes could be just as attractive as the French equivalent. 

But when a fire broke out and destroyed everything the pottery had built, including formulas and designs, they changed gears and started making more durable earthenware dishes with similar delicate designs often found in porcelain patterns.

Again, the Limoges China Company had something to prove. This time, it was that American earthenware was just as superior as esteemed English earthenware.  Beautifully designed and successful in distribution, the Limoges Company (of America) was bustling by the 1930s. Creating not only artistic designs full of elegant patterns and beautiful color palettes, they were also at the forefront of innovation when it came to manufacturing processes within the pottery plant.  

After the French Limoge pottery in France caught wind of the great success, the attractive designs, and the similar name, The Limoges China Company had to change names in order to avoid a lawsuit. Again they evolved and became the American Limoges Company which was a name change sufficient enough to calm everyone down in the industry. By the 1950s, unfortunately, this company pivot was not as successful as the last. The American Limoges Company went bankrupt and closed its doors in 1955.

Lucky for us, their pretty creations are still circulating among the vintage dishware world as ambassadors of history and art appreciation from one country to another. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• June Rose Pattern for American Limoges
• Hard to find pieces in pattern
• Stamped on bottom with maker's mark, pattern name, and date code
• Matching set of two bowls

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, these bowls contain no chips, cracks, spots or staining. One floral bouquet is slightly lighter in shade on one bowl than the other but both contain crisp, clean lines. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each bowl measures 8 Inches in diameter and weighs 13 oz.