Antique Coiffe Limoges Bowl

This gorgeous small porcelain bowl was created by Coiffe, a company that made blanks in Limoges France that were then decorated at other Limoges companies. Coiffe was well known for making the best quality porcelain.

The hand painted thistle flowers, bud and foliage were done by the decorating firm of Lazeyras, Rosenfeld & Lehman, founded after World War I around 1920 in Limoges. The details and gilding are superb, including the rippled pie-crust rim. Appropriate to its time, it exhibits the naturalistic influence of Art Nouveau. It's artist signed in gold on the inside of the bowl, though hard to read (ALiy?).

There are two marks on the bottom, printed in green; the one to the left is the star-like Coiffe mark, which references and collectors call "Mark 3;" it was used from 1891 to 1914. The larger mark is a crown with "HAND PAINTED" above it and the letters L.R.L. beneath it. The bottom of the mark reads "LIMOGES-FRANCE". Lazeyras, Rosenfeld & Lehman used this mark in the 1920's. Because Coiffe stopped using their mark in 1914 and L.R.L. did not start using their mark until at least 1920, it's reasonable to assume that since WWI started in 1914, this piece was stored and then made its way to L.R.L. after the war was over to be finished.

The bowl is petite, measuring 4 1/4 inches across the top and 1 1/8 inch tall with a base 2 1/2 inches in diameter. It weighs 3 ounces and is in like-new condition. The only issue we could find is a tiny swipe of gold paint under the rim at the top (shown). What this bowl lacks in size and weight it more than makes up for with its exquisite beauty.

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PYH 5479