Not dishwasher safe, so dinner set loses value

Q. This Limoges dinner set was given to me by my grandmother (I am 86). I would like to know for how much I could sell it. It's a service for 12, in perfect condition, with a soup tureen and numerous side dishes for vegetables and condiments.

A. We know that many of our more mature clients and readers value the Limoges china they have inherited. Unfortunately, this kind of dinnerware is not nearly as valuable as many suppose, and in these hard economic times, these sets have become even harder to sell. Prices have declined dramatically over the past few years, largely because younger collectors are not interested and because the pieces are not dishwasher safe.

Limoges is located about 200 miles south of Paris. Nearby is the village of St. Yrieix, where significant deposits of kaolin sometimes called “China clay” were discovered in 1768. Kaolin is a major ingredient in Chinese-style hard paste porcelain. (The other is called “petuntse” or “China stone.”)

In those early days, porcelain was extremely valuable, and this discovery of kaolin would eventually bring a thriving industry to the Limoges area. But the fledgling porcelain business struggled until American David Haviland came to town in the early 1840s. Then things began to turn around.

Later in the 19th century, many companies were established in Limoges to export dinnerware to the United States. These dishes came to this country by the literal boatload. Sometimes when we go into houses, we find five and six sets of Limoges.

The company that made the pieces in today's question is Vignaud Freres, established in 1911 and closed in 1938.

The pattern, “Meuse,” was made for the Wanamaker department store in New York City. The rather simple design might have been a Wanamaker exclusive, but it was transfer printed rather than hand painted.

This set is probably circa 1920. According to Replacements.com, a five piece place setting in Meuse is worth a little less than $90, the 11½-inch platter about $45, the 13-inch platter about $56, and the relish dish about $20.

The open vegetable bowl is worth about $70, but there was no mention of a soup tureen. Despite these prices, if a private individual were to try to sell this set, we think he or she would probably realize only 25 percent or less of the prices mentioned and the set would bring between $300 and $450 at best.

Ÿ Contact Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson at Treasures in Your Attic, P.O. Box 18350, Knoxville, TN 37928 or via e-mail at treasures@knology.net.