Pair of Porcelain Dessert Plates – Decoration Workshop: Manufacture Lucien Michelaud – Limoges, circa 1920–1930

This pair of Limoges porcelain dessert plates was decorated by Lucien Michelaud, a manufacturer and decorator based in Limoges.

The plates feature a particularly delicate decorative composition, combining a richly ornamented central medallion of polychrome floral motifs with a broad ivory rim, elegantly outlined by a dark navy-blue border.

The central decoration consists of a scattering of small pink and blue flowers, accompanied by green foliage and fine silvery-grey branches. Arranged in a circular, radiating composition, the floral bouquets create a profuse yet harmonious design. Shades of pink, blue and green lend a delicate freshness to the overall appearance, while a fine light-blue line defines the decorated medallion.

The broad rim, deliberately kept understated, enhances the richness of the central decoration. Its edge is framed by a double blue border, comprising a fine inner line and an outer navy-blue band, adding a graphic and elegant touch to the composition.

The balance between the abundance of the floral medallion and the restraint of the rim gives these pieces a refined aesthetic, characteristic of early 20th-century tableware.

Both plates bear the inscription “À la Ville de Limoges – Limoges France”, together with the stamp of Lucien Michelaud, confirming their association with his decoration workshop.

A charming pair of dessert plates, representative of the craftsmanship of Limoges decoration workshops and the interwar taste for polychrome floral compositions.

Lucien Michelaud holds a particularly interesting place in the history of Limoges porcelain. His activities extended beyond manufacturing: his decoration workshop worked on white porcelain blanks supplied by various manufacturers.

The Michelaud family was also closely associated with the history of the La Fabrique porcelain factory, taken over by the Michelaud brothers in 1917. Lucien Michelaud subsequently sold the factory to Jammet and Seignolles in 1962.