{"id":41783,"date":"2026-05-21T15:44:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/?page_id=41783"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:44:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:44:31","slug":"lhistoire-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/lhistoire-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

The history of Haviland<\/span><\/span>, a Limoges porcelain manufacturer since 1842<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since 1842, Haviland has embodied the excellence and forward-thinking spirit of French porcelain. A pioneering French tableware manufacturer, the Maison preserves a unique savoir-faire, born from an American passion for Limoges \u201cwhite gold\u201d and driven by a shared ambition: to transform each piece into a work of art.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

DAVID HAVILAND, IN PURSUIT OF WHITE GOLD<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/section>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

It all began in New York in 1838. David Haviland founded an import company specializing in earthenware and porcelain. A simple accident changed his destiny: a customer came to replace a chipped saucer. David then discovered Limoges porcelain<\/strong> and was immediately captivated by its exceptional whiteness and refinement.<\/p>\n

In 1842, he crossed the Atlantic to settle in Limoges<\/strong> and established his own manufacture there. A first: never before had an American chosen to set up a factory in Europe. Located close to the kaolin deposits of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche<\/strong>, David introduced a groundbreaking vision: mastering the entire production process, from paste to decoration, in order to ensure flawless quality.<\/p>\n

A visionary, he invented enluminage<\/strong>, a hand-painting technique that revolutionized porcelain decoration, and imported the first kilns capable of firing up to 2,000 plates<\/strong> simultaneously. International recognition quickly followed: a gold medal at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York in 1853<\/strong>, and a silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 185<\/strong>5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Haviland<\/span><\/span> was born. Limoges porcelain, in turn, entered an irreversible period of growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41788″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41796″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

THE AUTEUIL WORKSHOP, A LABORATORY OF AVANT-GARDE<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1872, Haviland<\/span><\/span> reached a decisive milestone by establishing an artists\u2019 studio on rue Michel-Ange in Auteuil, entrusted to F\u00e9lix Bracquemond<\/strong>, an engraver close to the Impressionists. The workshop quickly became a laboratory of avant-garde creativity, influenced by Japonism<\/strong>, Impressionism<\/strong>, and Symbolism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The leading creators of the time gathered there: \u00c9douard Dammouse<\/span><\/span>, Albert Dammouse<\/span><\/span>, Ernest Chaplet<\/span><\/span>, Jules Desbois<\/span><\/span>, and Paul Gauguin<\/span><\/span>. Together, they created more than 400 revolutionary designs.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asymmetrical compositions, Impressionist slip decorations, the brush application of colored liquid clay, chromolithography<\/strong> on porcelain, mechanical calibration, and new kiln technologies: in Auteuil, Haviland brought together artistic boldness and technical innovation, leaving a lasting mark on French decorative arts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TABLES IN THE WORLD<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/section>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

Six Presidents of the United States<\/strong> chose Haviland<\/span><\/span> <\/strong>for their tables, from Abraham Lincoln<\/span><\/span><\/strong> in 1861 to Franklin D. Roosevelt<\/span><\/span><\/strong> in 1938. From Lincoln\u2019s arrival at the White House, the choice of Haviland porcelain<\/strong> embodied a vision of tableware<\/strong> that was refined<\/strong>, elegant<\/strong>, and resolutely modern<\/strong>, reflecting the image of a nation in the midst of asserting itself.<\/p>\n

The Hayes service<\/strong> (1877\u20131881), comprising more than 1,000 pieces<\/strong> adorned with watercolors by Theodore Davis<\/span><\/span>, remains one of the most iconic in the White House.<\/strong> Every detail illustrates the symbols of power<\/strong> and American identity<\/strong>, transforming these services into true works of art, where institutional prestige<\/strong> meets artistic refinement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This recognition extended far beyond Washington. Royal families, embassies, state palaces, major institutions, luxury hotels, and the tables of great chefs<\/strong>: for nearly two centuries, Haviland tableware<\/strong> has accompanied exceptional moments<\/strong>, from official receptions<\/strong> to the most distinguished dining experiences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41875″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41951″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

THE BOLDNESS OF GREAT ARTISTS<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the dawn of the 20th century, while porcelain manufactories still entrusted their decorations to anonymous craftsmen, Haviland<\/span><\/span> made a radically modern choice: inviting the greatest artists of its time to design for the table.<\/p>\n

As early as 1900, the sculptor Antoine Bourdelle<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, a student of Auguste Rodin<\/span><\/span>, began reinterpreting \u201cwhite gold,\u201d opening the way to an unprecedented dialogue between sculpture and porcelain. He was followed by \u00c9douard-Marcel Sandoz<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, a master animal sculptor, who brought a new sculptural nobility to Limoges porcelain: his living forms and animals captured in motion turned each piece into a work of art in its own right.<\/p>\n

This dialogue reached its peak with Art Deco<\/strong>. The Maison brought together a constellation of artists who reinvented porcelain through geometric lines, gold accents, and stylized compositions. Suzanne Lalique<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, daughter of Ren\u00e9 Lalique<\/span><\/span>, created forms and decorations of rare graphic elegance. Jean Luce<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, one of the undisputed masters of tableware in the 1920s and 1930s, developed a refined vocabulary marked by gold lines and geometric motifs. Jean Mayodon<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, a renowned ceramist and artistic director of the Manufacture nationale de S\u00e8vres<\/span><\/span>, lent his talent to pieces inspired by a reimagined Antiquity.<\/p>\n

These collaborations established a tradition of dialogue with living creativity that has never ceased since.<\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

CENTURY-LONG PARTNERSHIPS<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/section>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

Some stories are measured in generations. For more than a century, Haviland<\/span><\/span> has adorned the table of the The Ritz Paris<\/strong>, the iconic palace on Place Vend\u00f4me, and has created porcelain collections for it that have become legendary, such as Marthe Ritz Paris<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The same enduring partnership exists with the Orient Express<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, whose carriages the Maison has equipped since the golden age of rail travel. Today, Haviland continues to support the revival of the world\u2019s most famous train, alongside the studio of Maxime d’Angeac<\/span><\/span> and the table of chef Yannick All\u00e9no<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Two names, two worlds, one shared standard: an enduring French art de vivre<\/strong> that has never faded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41877″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”41767″ img_size=”500×500″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″]

<\/div>

TODAY\u2019S MOMENTUM<\/h2><\/div>
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/section>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1992, the manufacture moved into a modern factory in Limoges, while preserving its ancestral French savoir-faire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Today, Haviland<\/span><\/span> affirms a renewed artistic direction<\/strong>, faithful to the pioneering spirit of its founder and to the artistic freedom that has always defined the Maison.<\/p>\n

Its vision is to re-enchant everyday life by bringing to life the artistic richness of 19th- and 20th-century French heritage, so that beauty becomes an inspiring presence in every moment of life.<\/p>\n

This ambition unfolds through three major artistic movements<\/strong> that structure the Maison\u2019s collections: Classicism<\/strong> and Neoclassicism<\/strong>, seeking harmony and an ideal of beauty; Orientalism<\/strong> and Exoticism<\/strong>, celebrating elsewhere, discovery, and escape; and Modernism<\/strong> and Abstraction<\/strong>, expressing creative freedom and the renewal of forms.<\/p>\n

Reissues of iconic designs from its archives, exclusive collaborations, and an expansion into decorative objects: Haviland is writing a new chapter in its history today, without ever renouncing what has made it, for nearly 200 years, a truly singular house in the world of French porcelain.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] The history of Haviland, a Limoges porcelain manufacturer since 1842 Since 1842, Haviland has embodied the excellence and forward-thinking spirit of French porcelain. A pioneering French tableware manufacturer, the Maison preserves a unique savoir-faire, born from an American passion for Limoges \u201cwhite gold\u201d and driven by a shared ambition: to transform each piece …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4753,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41783","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.0","language":"en","enabled_languages":["fr","en"],"languages":{"fr":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"yoast_head":"\nThe history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Haviland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/fr-fr.facebook.com\/havilandofficiel\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/\",\"name\":\"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-21T14:44:31+00:00\",\"description\":\"Depuis 1842, Haviland incarne l'excellence de la porcelaine de Limoges. D\u00e9couvrez l'histoire d'une manufacture fran\u00e7aise pionni\u00e8re de l'art de la table.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Accueil\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"L’histoire de Haviland, manufacture fran\u00e7aise depuis 1842\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Haviland\",\"description\":\"Excellence in Limoges porcelain since 1842\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland","og_url":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/","og_site_name":"Haviland","article_publisher":"https:\/\/fr-fr.facebook.com\/havilandofficiel\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/","url":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/","name":"The history of Haviland, a French porcelain manufacturer since 1842 - Haviland","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-05-21T14:44:31+00:00","description":"Depuis 1842, Haviland incarne l'excellence de la porcelaine de Limoges. D\u00e9couvrez l'histoire d'une manufacture fran\u00e7aise pionni\u00e8re de l'art de la table.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/lhistoire-2\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Accueil","item":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"L’histoire de Haviland, manufacture fran\u00e7aise depuis 1842"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/","name":"Haviland","description":"Excellence in Limoges porcelain since 1842","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4753"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41783"}],"version-history":[{"count":90,"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41952,"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41783\/revisions\/41952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.haviland.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}