This is a STORY AND A HALF about the Pouyat Family and their history in the porcelain industry in France. It was kind of complicated, and I am still not sure it is correct! I took notes from four different sites and they all had similar and conflicting dates and information!
Nice plate, one of four, made by Jean Pouyat, Limoges, France somwehere between 1891-1932. Picture taken 1-28-2010.
Pierre Pouyat started factory at Saint-Yreix (France) around 1760. His son, Francois owned clay deposits and clay works in the Haute-Vienne region. He went into partnership with Louis (or Laurentius) Russinger who’s company was called La Courtelle. Russinger operated the business from 1795-1800… Now, some websites have different dates, so it gets a bit confusing. One source says Francois succeeded Russinger in 1808. Anyway, it was sometime in that period and he was then the sole owner. His sons, Leonard and Jean-Baptiste joined him in 1808 (I think)… (One source doesn’t mention Leonard.) I also read where a Jean Pouyat-Duvignaud also joined them (but I am not sure who he was either).
Leonard and Jean went into partnership with a porcelain factory in Paris in 1816, I think it was called Locre (?). They bought the factory in 1820 and Leonard managed it until his death in 1845. One source says that the company continued in operation, which sold in 1823, and Jean stayed with the company as head of sales, until when I have no clue. I think the company ceased production in 1865, though.
The set of four plates by Jean Pouyat.
Then in 1832, Francois Pouyat (remember, this is Jean’s father) started a small factory in Limoges. In 1835 he bought a clay works and shop in Saint Leonard (near Limoges)(sold in 1904 to Leon Pommier) . It says that Jean-Baptiste enlarged the factory in 1844. One source says that Jean closed his fathers factory and opened one in Limoges… GEEZ! This is almost as controversial as Kutani!
Anyway, this factory was very successful and it was in Limoges! Jean-Baptiste was succeeded by his sons, Emile, Louis, and Leonard. Emile had trained at the Locre factory and he managed the Pouyat’s factory in Limoges from 1849-1883. I have no idea what went on from 1883-1911, but it was then sold to W. Guerin (in 1911). Suzanne also has a plate made by W. Guerin.
The J. P. L. mark used by the company from 1891-1932. I don't know what company the other mark is from YET! Possibly the plates were made by the Pouyat factory and sold as blanks to the other company...
In 1883, Emile and Leonard formed La Ceramique SA with Baron de la Bastide and his brothers Leon and Alfred Lemaigre-Dubreuil (Leon and Alfred were Leonard’s sons-in-law)
Leon Pommier, who bought clayworks and porceian shop in 1904, died. His widow sold them to La Society la Porcelainerie de la Haute-Vienne in 1920 (?).
Hello, I too am trying to get the actual History of the Pouyat Factory, but to no avail. I have a beautiful Pouyat plate handpainted and signed EMILE. Markings on the back J.P (underlined) over L. over France. Above mark is a Pat. #. There is also a number in red C. 5557, and an overglaze “Hand painted” in light blue. The scene is a tropical scene with a shimmering lake or cove. Rich gold gilding adorns the scalloped raised relief rim. Excellent condition with no issues. I read that Emile Pouyat was born in 1806 and died in 1892. This mark, according to most Limoges reference books on marks, puts this from 1891 to 1902. Could Emile have painted this when he was 86 years old?? Could there have been another Emile in family, perhaps his son? Any help you can give me about the history of Emile Pouyat would be very much appreciated. My next thought is to go check the library for more reference books. Regards, Josie (hollywood/ft laud,fl)
Josie,
Thanks for visiting the blog. Jean Pouyat had some beautifully decorated pieces for sure! I would love it if you could send some pictures of your plate. I would put it on the blog with reference that it is courtesy of you. Maybe we could get some answers. I will check my notes on Jean Pouyat and see if I can find anything about perhaps another Emile. Sometimes grandchildren, etc., would have the same names. Keep me posted if you find anything else out.
Hi, thanks for your email. I’ll send you photos of my Emile plate. Tell me what email address to use. Thanks, Josie
Hi there, I love the site, its fantastic. Very informative. I actually went to a number of different sites before this one just to find some information on the Pouyat’s and got the most out of this one page! Fantastic. Thanks so much for your hard work. Much like the last posting by Josie, I also have a solitary plate that I have been trying to place to no avail. On the back its numbered at the top like so, “c.3826.” It has two stamps like your website references, the first is the J.P.L. stamp, but the second is a circular wreath where inside it says “J.Pouyat Limoges.” And then directly under that stamp there is another “stamp” which reads, in French “Peint et Dore, a la main, A LIMOGES.” All three of these stamps are one on top of the other, as though they were in a column. Its oddly planned. Anyhow, on the front, its signed by Emile, and the design is as follows: gold trim, yellowish-green and dark green backdrop, with pinkish and red roses that have gold outlining, same as the leaves. I’d say its about a 10 inch dinner plate. I’d love some input about this, because I’ve searched high and low about this collection and cant find anything on it. If you know of a website I can go or have some info yourself, I’d love to hear it! You seem to have the answers. Thanks so much, and keep up the good work!
John,
Thanks for the great comment! I know how frustrating trying to find information on these old plates can be! I do have some saved sites in my computer, but I am STILL using the computer at the library. I am quite sure if you have been doing the “exhaustive research” thing online you have no doubt been to all the sites I have. The stamp that says “Peint et Dore” in unfamiliar to me… Maybe Josie has an idea. She seems to be very well informed! I just love it when folks get to this blog and give valuable information! Remember, many companies, in fact most companies that made porcelain products sold them to decorating houses and did not decorate their own products. That is why so many are double stamped. It is more frustrating when they stamp right over the first one!
Thanks again for the great comment and visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog!!!
Hello John, You have a Jean Pouyat Limoges porcelain plate handpainted by French artist Emile circa late 19th Century. The second mark is the overglaze decorating mark (green wreath with ribbon) which indicates it was factory decorated. Peint et Dore translates Painted and Gilded. I would love to see your place, as I am a passionate Limoges lover of fine handpainted antique porcelain. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Josie
Josie,
Thanks for your comment to the comment! I knew you would come through for us. And please, John, send us a picture! You can send it to mysticalmansion@yahoo.com.
typo error , John….”love to see your PLATE”
)
Hello fellow Pouyat researchers! I’d be happy to send over a few pictures of my plate, no problem at all. I will do that later tonight, in the meantime, a few questions, if it is a factory plate what does that do to the value of the plate? And does that mean it was not hand-painted by Emile himself? I must say, it doesnt really matter, its a beautiful plate in any case, its just nice to finally have some answers to go along with it!
Thanks so much!!! I’ll get those pictures sent over pronto. Take care. 
John,
Um… I believe that if Emile’s signed the plate then surely he did decorate it. I certainly don’t think that it being made and decorated at the same factory would hurt it’s value any… Especially since it is from a very well known company and Pouyat Limoges is a very collectible name. Looking forward to your pictures.
I recently acquired some JPL pieces. My pieces have the JP over L over France stamp, as well as the W surrounded by a wreath with a ribbon. I believe this is a John Wanamaker stamp. I hope this fills in a blank in your research.
Suzanne,
Thanks for visiting the blog! I appreciate the information.
I bought a complete set of Limoge china at a house sale for $90.00. The mark on the back of each piece is JP and I have found the pattern as POY7. The original set was service for 12 and I have all but a few pieces. I would like to know the value of the set but have not had much luck online. Any help would be appreciated.
Melissa,
Finding a complete set of Limoge is a great find indeed! To find the value would be difficult unless you subscribe to Kovels or a company that can help you. Of course, subscribing would cost you a little. You can check on eBay to see if there are other sets similar to give you an idea what sellers are asking and check completed listings to see what sets have sold for. Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog.
Allo!
I’m from Porto, Portugal and i have a old set of coffee cups and dishes from J.P.L. FRANCE.
This limoges pieces are white with a gold border, monographed in gold, and in the back the JPL brand in green and another reference in red – Paul Klotz
22,rue de Paradis Paris.
Is this Klotz a shop? a Buyer? do you know something about it?
Greetings
Jorge Romariz
Jorge,
I really have no clue what your pieces are worth. You may be able to locate them in a Kovel’s price guide or look on eBay and see if similar items are listed. Check the completed listings to see if similar items have sold. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog.
I was lucky enough to inherit my grandparent’s Jean Pouyat Limoges. Twelve settings of pattern #258; white with a gold encrusted band and an inner verge. They are absolutely stunning! The backmark (stamp) of a wreath with a ribbon with the “W” inside means the dish was imported to the U.S. between 1914-1932 by John Wanamaker of Philadelphia. After all these years of use they are still in beautiful condition except for a teacup that I broke.
Laura,
Thanks for visiting the Mystical Mansion and Garden blog and thanks for the great information about the “W”! I am sure that will help many readers I am sure!
Hi Laura, Your Pouyat Limoges set with the decorating mark of a green wreath and ribbon indicates the mark was used from 1906 to 1932.
Josie
The ” W” I believe means it was made for wanamakers
I have an interesting Jean Pouyat, ca. 1891-1932 FRENCH LIMOGES DRAGON HANDLE PILLOW VASE: Hand painted Arabian on horseback, gilt dragon handles, 8 1/2″h. This is very inconsistant with the typical handpainted pouyat flowers we so often see on any pillow vase. It is hand signed by artist, however I have my vase in storage and so cannot reference artists name at this time. I have searched and searched for any record of this vase to no avail. I would be glad to send a photo to whom ever might have some knowledge about this vase or know how I might find out further information on the vase.
DeAnn,
I will forward your comment to someone that may be able to help you. Meanwhile, if anyone else reads it, maybe they can help. Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden.
Hi
I bought a piece of JPL France Limoges at an auction and can not find it shown anywhere. Along with the the Green JPL mark that was used from 1890 to 1932, it has a purple FPL, One letter above the other. This piece is flower shaped, just like you had picked a flower. It is Purple with darker purple violets? It has 2 “legs” and the stem that it sits on. Do You have any idea what it is? My wife just said it looks like a Bouquet.
PS. I have spent 3 days searching the web and finally found your site. you have great information that I could not find anywhere else.
Thanks
Rick
Rick,
Thanks for the great comment. Maybe someone reading this blog, and your comment, can be of more help. Trying to find out information about certain pieces can be very frustrating. Kovels and a few other books have a few pictures, but hardly ever the one you are looking for. Auction sites are fun because they do have pictures, give us way to many ideas, and tempt us to buy when we just want information!
I would be interested in seeing a picture and adding it yo your comment, but I am not sure if I can… Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog.
Greetings, Thanks to you I have found information about an unusual piece I found at the Goodwill store! I was attracted to it because of what was painted on it. It depicts a bear sitting under a tree smoking a pipe. The hallmark on the bottom is J. P. over L. France. It also has an odd shape almost a four leaf clover but not quite. It is about 4 inches tall. There is some writing in english done in gold …You may break you may shatter the pipe if you will. The scent of tobacco will cling to it still. On the bottom is also written, Poste (possibly, it is hard to read). Can you enlighten me? Thank you
Joan,
Interesting! I have no clue, but maybe someone reading this will have an idea and send some information. Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog. I will keep you posted.
Hi Rick, Your Pouyat piece sounds very nice. I would love to see a photo. Could you post one or send it to my email address. Let me know. thanks, Josie
I can tell you that the W is for Wanamaker’s, which imported them over a 40 year period. What I can’t figure out is how to identify a particular pattern or appraise it…have a whole set that was my great grandmother’s
Hopita,
Thanks for the information! Hope you can enlighten us more!
I believe that the “W” symbol stands for Wanamaker’s Department store in Philadelphia.
I have a mug with cherries painted on it and the jpl france on the bottom which is signed E Kluckholm. Also a round trinket dish with a lid and violets painted on both. The bottom is also signed the same as the above mug, only the other lettering has AK france. I have had these for years. Inherited from my Grandmother
Nancy,
Nice to have porcelain, especially Limoges, that have been passed down like yours! Keep them and continue passing them along! Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog.
I have a beautiful Lomoge plate. The front is signed Poutat. The back has a small crown with the initials L.R.L. with Limoge France unfer it. To the side is a small star. I cannot make it out to well. The plate hs a cavalier sitting in chair with a woman in blue standing beside him. Also, there are 4 holes for hanging.
Nancy,
Are you sure it doesn’t say J.P.L.? If it does, it is from the Jean Pouyat factory in Limoge, France. If not, email me a picture of the plate and the mark on the back to mysticalmansion@yahoo.com. I have not run across any plates with holes in them for hanging either. Nice! Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog.
I do not have a plate like the one you described….I have the mug and the trinket dish….
I have an almost complete service for 12 Pouyat Limoges set I inherited from my grandmother. The set was probably purchased at Wanamaker’s as a wedding gift from her sister. The mystery I have is that even though the pattern is the same throughout the set, there are several different markings on some of the pieces. Some have the JP/L along with the W for Wannamaker’s and a Limoges P and P France marking (no “La Seynie”). Some have Limoge P and P with the La Seynie included as well as the W but not the JP/L France marking. A few others have the W marking and in simple green writing another marking that says “Limoges France”. Additionally, some have the J. Pouyat Limoges wreath with the pink ribbon marking included with other markings – but some do not!
I know that the P and P markings stands for the Paroutard Freres who had a Limoges factory in La Seynie and used this marking from 1903 to 1917. Wanamaker’s imported Limoges from 1913 – 1932. The JP/LFrance markings date from 1890-1932. Confused? Me, too!
Then in my search, I found a similar item that was for sale on eBay that explained the markings a bit more clearly.
["Each piece bears 3 marks - one for the manufacturer, one for the decorator and the third for the importer.
Mark 1: 'J.P./L France' indicates the porcelain was made by La Ceramique (Jean Pouyat), Limoges, France after 1905.
Mark 2: 'J Pouyat/Limoges' in a wreath - indicates the hand-painted decoration was done between 1890 and 1932.
Mark 3: ' W (within wreath) - Philadelphia - Paris - New York' - indicates the piece was imported into the United States by Philadelphia's John Wanamaker between 1914 and 1932."]
I am assuming that some of my pattern was manufactured by the Paroutard Freres at the La Seynie factory, and some was manufactured at Pouyat’s La Ceramique factory.
I still don’t know where the simple “Limoges, France” marking came from or why some of the P and P have “La Seynie” on the marking and some do not.
I guess what I’m trying to do is narrow down when this china was made and when it was imported. I have no idea what year my grandparents’ marriage took place.
I also have some photos I’ve taken and would like to post them, but don’t quite know how to do this on your site. – Thanks – Hope R.
Hope,
Not exactlt sure how to do that either… Email them to me at mysticalmansion@yahoo.com and I’ll see if I can figure it out. I know I had a weird deal when I tried to make a post and it said I had to have permission from the administrator of the blog… GEEZ! I thought I was the administrator. I just signed out and signed back in. It may be that you can attempt to make a post and then I have to approve you…
Hope,
Thanks for visiting The Mystical Mansion and Garden Blog. I have seen this confusion on a few of my own sets…from the same company in fact. I will forward your question to our faithful “Limoges Expert”, Josie, and see if she can enlighten us. Thanks again for visiting the blog. It’s comments and questions like yours that make us tick!
The Paroutaud brothers manufactured white wares in the form of art objects & decorative accessories. Factory decorated pieces have not been seen, but the firm produced both white wares and decorated china. The company had three locations, two in Limoges, France and one in La Seynie, France. The marks incorporate both names. One mark had “La Seynie Limoges P.P. France”., and the other mark “La Seynie Limoges * P and P * France”, both used from 1903 to 1917.
vous etes passionné par lhistoire de la famille pouyat et de sa porcelaine je suis de la famille pouyat et je suis aussi tres passioné par cette longue histoire et je suis amusé de votre blog pour découvrir ce que moi je connais.por les amateur averti toutes les pièces fabriqué à limoge par la famiile son estampillé jpl sans exeption .
What? English, please…
The French writer above wrote the following, for your edification. I thought you might appreciate someone properly translating it for you, since I tried using Google translate, and the result was unintelligible:
Pouyat wrote: “vous etes passionné par lhistoire de la famille pouyat et de sa porcelaine je suis de la famille pouyat et je suis aussi tres passioné par cette longue histoire et je suis amusé de votre blog pour découvrir ce que moi je connais. Pour les amateur toutes les pièces fabriqué à Limoges par la famille sont estampillé jpl sans exeption.”
The translation is:
“You are passionate about the history of the Pouyat family and its porcelain. I am of the Pouyat family, and I am also very passionate about this history, and I am amused by your blog to see what I [already] know. For amateurs, all pieces manufactured in Limoges by the family are stamped JPL, without exception.”
Cedd1,
Thanks SO much for the translation! I am glad I put the comment on the blog and very glad that someone from the Pouyat family has visited!
Thanks again!
Pouyat:
[En Français rudimentaire, je regrette que je ne suis pas courrament...]
Souhaitez-vous avoir la gentillesse de répondre à une question, et m’accordez le bénéfice de certains de vos connaissances considèrables en ce qui concerne la porcelaine de Jean Pouyat?
J’ai récemment acquis un pièce qui est peut-être un saucière(?); cependant, qu’il est carré, avec pieds, tout à fait peu profonde, possede un seule poignée, at aussi, une jante festonné (sans bec). Ce pièce de service porcelaine est large, à bas-côttens et plat–mais, il est plus trop beaucoup ainsi pour être un saucière, je crois. Néanmoins, il semble destiné pour un type d’aliment qui doit être refroidi avant de verser, en particulier, en vue de le verser sur une épaisse couche de sauce– peut-être un demi-glace ? Savez-vous pour quel but spécifique cette pièce aurait pu être fait? La date comprise dans la marque du potier est Avril 2, 1907; cette inclusion exceptionelle d’un date dans ceci le marque du potier est apparemment notable, oui?
Merci(!) de votre participation experte dans cette discussion.
English Translation:
Pouyat:
Would you be so kind as to answer a question, and allow me to avail myself of some of your expertise regarding the porcelain of Jean Pouyat?
I have recently acquired a piece that is perhaps a saucèire(?); however, it is square with feet, quite shallow, has a single handle and a scalloped rim (no spout). This porcelain service piece is wide, low-sided and flat– too much so to be a sauce boat, I believe. Nevertheless, it appears to be intended for a type of food that must be cooled before pouring, more particularly, in order to pour a thick layer of sauce– perhaps a demi-glace? Do you know for what specific purpose this piece might have been made? The date included in the potter’s mark is April 2, 1907, the exceptional inclusion of which date in this potter’s mark is apparently significant, yes?
Thank you(!) for your expert participation in this discussion.
Cedd1,
I will forward this question to someone that could possibly know. I’ll get back to you ASAP!
To Cedd1 – The Pouyat Family
I have a very important question for your Pouyat Family. Many hand painted plates are painted by a painter by the name of EMILE with the Pouyat stamp JP L France along with a patent number, and an overglaze mark “Hand Painted”. Who was Emile who painted these plates at the factory around 1900? This has been a mystery to Limoges Porcelain Collectors. It could not have been the elderly Emile Pouyat. Thank you, Josie
I have a pillow vace floral design in pink and purple roses with green leaves and dragon handles 11 1/2″ high x 10″ wide. Marked J.P. over L. France in Green. Has enightals in gold A.R.B. 09. Trying to find info and value. Note in excellant condition. Can send pictures.
John,
Glad to hear from you! Sounds like you have a nice vase. Email me pictures at mysticalmansion@yahoo.com. I will shoot an email to someone who may have more information.