Art Deco Filter Coffee Pot – Aluminite – Manufacture René Frugier – Limoges, c. 1920–1930

This filter coffee pot, also suitable for preparing tea, is made from Aluminite heat-resistant porcelain by Manufacture René Frugier in Limoges, circa 1920–1930.

Comprising four original components—the main vessel, lid, infusion chamber and perforated filter—this piece is entirely crafted from white porcelain with a glossy glaze. Its understated yet elegant silhouette is characteristic of Frugier’s domestic productions.

The gently curved body rests on a small circular foot. It is complemented by an elegant side handle and a finely shaped spout, giving the piece a refined yet functional profile.

The upper section forms a cylindrical infusion chamber, slightly raised above the main body. It accommodates a removable circular porcelain filter with numerous perforations, allowing loose tea leaves to be infused directly in the vessel. The set is completed by a domed lid with a central knob, designed to fit neatly over the upper chamber.

The particular interest of this piece lies in its four-part construction, conceived for the practical preparation of infusions while taking advantage of the heat-resistant properties of Aluminite porcelain, developed by René Frugier in Limoges.

René Frugier, an engineer and porcelain manufacturer based in Limoges, developed a special heat-resistant porcelain in the early 20th century, marketed under the name Aluminite. Intended particularly for kitchenware and laboratory equipment, this body was designed to withstand significant temperature variations. The Musée national Adrien-Dubouché holds Aluminite heat-resistant porcelain donated by René Frugier as early as 1901.

The Frugier manufactory is documented in Limoges from the late 19th century and was acquired by Haviland in 1958. The Haute-Vienne departmental archives also preserve a collection relating to “L’Aluminite. Porcelaine René Frugier”, dated circa 1938.

The form and aesthetic of this piece suggest a date in the first half of the 20th century, probably around 1920–1930, when the geometric, functional lines of Art Deco were gaining prominence. Comparable Frugier Aluminite pieces are also attributed to the 1920s–1930s in the collectors’ market.