From ebay

Limoges is a region in southern France, approximately 100 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. In the Middle Ages, Limoges became the epicenter of a thriving enamel industry. Local artisans created gorgeous works of art on copper, and the region became known throughout Europe for its rich mineral deposits. In 1768, prospectors discovered kaolin clay in the Limoges region. Soon thereafter, locals established a bustling porcelain trade. The very first Limoges porcelain factory was established in the late 18th century as a government subsidiary. In the decades after the French Revolution, Limoges porcelain production transferred to private ownership. Three decades later, more than three dozen porcelain factories produced fine wares from Limoges. The region gained an international reputation, and artisans from across the world set up shop in Limoges to process the precious quartz, feldspar, and kaolin found in the soil.Limoges porcelain is made by a double firing process. Once the quartz, feldspar, and kaolin mix has been crushed and sifted, it gets heated to nearly 1,000° F. This mixture than gets glazed by enamel and reheated to 1,400° F. The double heating process creates a nonporous final product which can be used as elegant tableware.Limoges supports a number of world-famous porcelain makers, including Elite, Ahrenfeldt, and Pouyat. In the late 1800s, David Haviland, an American, set up shop in the northern part of Limoges. He bucked the French convention of shipping his designs to Paris for final decoration. As a result, local French artisans protested Haviland's shop for years.