I have two quite different pieces of Limoges porcelain that are tied together with the story of porcelain in Bourganeuf. There is the complete transferware coffee set by the manufacturer Villegoureix Noel & Cie with its misfirings and imperfections. I can only wonder if this was their learning curve time of the business or was this why they were only in production for a few years? Then there is the beautiful timeless elegance of the two Pallas tureens with gilt edging from a company that operated for much longer.
The company Villegoureix, Noel & Cie only existed from 1919-1926, a mere 7 years.
The company Pallas operated from 1926 to 1950, 24 years.
Bourganeuf is a commune in the Creuse department of the region of Limousine, now called Nouvelle Aquitaine.
The year is 1818 and the Jaucourt family has owned the Chateau of Vedrenas since 1778. Jean Baptiste Jaucourt discovers Kaolin clay deposit on his estate and decides to found a porcelain factory with the Mayor of Bourganeuf, Mr Laurent. I believe the factory was situated where the hospital of Bourganeuf now stands.
Their first attempt at making porcelain was a failure, they persevered but with no success after several years had lost a considerable amount of money. Mr Laurent then called on a young entrepreneur by the name of Joseph Filhoulaud to help. Filhoulaud cleaned up the accounts and decided to abandon the Vedrenas kaolin, which was of poor quality, and supply it from Limoges instead. The factory then became profitable and in 1825 they were employing 86 workers, who were paid an average of two francs a day. After the July revolution of 1831 the number of workers fell to just 25 people who were now only earning 1 franc and fifty. By 1838 work had improved again and they were employing 117 workers, still only on 1 franc and fifty, and a second furnace was built.
Laurent withdrew from the company in 1827. By this time Filhoulaud had married Jaucourts daughter.
In the late 1840s it is reported that Jaucourt was forced "by violence" to pay an extortionate amount of rent that suddenly rose from 338 francs to 1500 francs. I have to wonder if this was 'protection money'? This was equal to 700 days wages for the company! Obviously this lack of cash jeopardised the business. Jaucourt attempted to get financial aid from the Prefect but the municipality declined. The factory was sold to Desire Tixier in 1848.
Joseph Filhoulaud and his sons bought it back in 1852.
Sold again in 1903 to Messrs Robert and Siegel.
In 1919 Villegoureix and Noel bought the factory. A third furnace was built. Villegoureix and Noel had a workshop in Limoges where they took the white porcelain ware for decoration and marketing. Villegoureix and Noel ran the factory at Bourganeuf and the workshop in Limoges until struggling financial times meant they sold the factory and workshop to Mr Michelaud and Mr Dupuy.
Michelaud and Dupuy used the factory at Bourganeuf and the workshops in Limoges to manufacture, decorate and market their porcelain under the 'Pallas' mark. They operated from 1926 until after liquidation it was closed in 1950 and the building demolished.
So ends the story of porcelain of Bourganeuf.
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