Covered Soup Tureen – Manufacture Martin Charles – Limoges, c. 1920–1930

Oval covered soup tureen in Limoges porcelain, produced by the Charles Martin porcelain manufactory in Limoges, probably around 1920–1930. The reverse bears the characteristic green triangular mark with the CM monogram, accompanied by the inscriptions “Limoges”, “France” and “Déposé”, a mark documented for this manufactory.

Of low, generously curved form, the tureen is made of fine white porcelain with a glossy glaze. Its refined decoration combines delicate garlands of small pink roses with green foliage and subtle floral bouquets, enhanced by an elegant geometric border in pink and purple running around the edge of the lid and the upper section of the tureen.

The piece is further enhanced with fine gilt lines and decorative details. The two pierced handles, with their flowing contours outlined in gold, together with the stylized shell-shaped finial on the lid, give the tureen a particularly decorative character, evoking the Rocaille and Louis XV decorative vocabulary, reinterpreted in the style of the early 20th century.

The combination of delicate floral motifs and geometric ornament reflects the period’s taste for compositions blending historical references with more modern decorative trends. Charles Martin tableware featuring stylized floral patterns, geometric compositions and gilt accents is notably documented from the 1920s–1930s.

This soup tureen is a fine example of antique Limoges porcelain, both elegant and decorative, suitable for display on a dining table, as part of an antique dinner service, or within a collection devoted to Limoges porcelain from the early 20th century.