Théodore Haviland tea service, Limoges

Description

Set of 10 cups and saucers "The Golden Nights of Haviland"
Tea service. Théodore Haviland, Limoges, France, 1900s.
Porcelain; glaze, cobalt blue, double gilding, gold painted decoration.
Brand: “Theodore Haviland Limoges France – Patent applied for”.
Dimensions: cup; Ø 9 cm, h. 5 cm; saucer; Ø 14,5 cm.
In a perfect state

This service is a remarkable example of French artistic porcelain from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It was made in the Théodore Haviland factory in Limoges — one of the main European centers for porcelain production.
The classic shape of the cups and saucers is combined with the depth of the cobalt tone of the glaze and the richness of the decoration in matte and shiny gold, entirely hand-painted.
The fineness of the porcelain, the purity of the lines and the harmony of the colours reflect the aesthetics of the Belle Époque, an era enamored with balance and refined luxury.
The reverse of the coins bears the mark in red: "Théodore Haviland, Limoges, France. Patent applied for".
This stamp was used approximately between 1903 and 1925, a period during which Theodore Haviland — son of founder David Haviland — produced services in Limoges intended to adapt American taste to French porcelain.
• Style and decoration
• Dominant colour: deep cobalt blue (oven blue), characteristic of luxury services from the late 19th – early 20th century.
• Abundant gilding, executed by hand in relief with fine ornamental motifs, testifying to a work of great mastery, probably intended for export to the United States or for commissions from European aristocratic houses.
• Technique
• Fine porcelain, with a soft glaze sheen, typical of Limoges.
• 22-carat gold applied using the relief gilding technique.
The presence of cutouts and edges gives the whole piece a particular elegance.
Such services were intended for aristocratic salons and boudoirs, where the tea ritual was an integral part of high society culture.