Limoges: Souvenir mugs bearing the stamp of France’s exclusive ‘Limoges porcelain’ which were to be sold at the Elysee presidential palace’s souvenir shop were likely made in China, experts said on Saturday. The branding faux pas has piqued the ire of porcelain potters in Limoges in the central Haute-Vienne region who make some of the finest and most expensive ceramics in the world. Alain Mouly, who heads the union of Limoges porcelain workers, said he was alerted to the problem by the ceramicists at a meeting in late August.
“I asked the audience who made these products and they all laughed. It has been a very long time since any potter here has made porcelain mugs,” he said. “The product has become too dear, it doesn’t sell and doesn’t fit the profile of Limoges porcelain. Most of these mugs are now made in Asia.” Limoges was built on porcelain, with production starting after 1768 when it was found to be a rich source of white kaolin clay, transforming it into a major producer. But since December, only pottery which has been entirely made and decorated in the Haute-Vienne region may display the ‘Limoges porcelain’ stamp after the area was awarded the status of a protected geographical indication (IGP).
Although the mock mugs were actually decorated in France, it was in the southern city of Toulouse, Mouly said. “It’s ridiculous. The state lets you have this geographical indication but it can’t even control the products that it ends up buying itself!” he said. “We didn’t know about the protected geographic origin,” Mug in France founder Jean-Charles Granchamp said, saying they had destroyed the offending products and sent 300 other French porcelain mugs to the palace — without saying where they were made. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
