The story of Bernardaud China began in 1768 in Saint-Yrieix-La-Perche, a small village near Limoges, France, when a woman made a discovery. She noticed a type of white clay in the ground that was extremely malleable. She had an innovative use for it ? she used it to bleach her household linens. This clay was rich in kaolin, one of the main ingredients that the Chinese used to help them develop their recipe for porcelain. However, it wasn?t until 1863 that the clay in this region was used to make china in France.

The Original Porcelain Factory Opens in Limoges

As it turns out, the Limoges area in France is rich with the same kind of clay that the woman discovered in 1768. Two industrialists from Limoges opened a porcelain factory in the city that took advantage of this local, natural resource. Leonard Bernardaud was an apprentice in the new factory and within twenty years, he was promoted to the head of sales and became a partner. By 1900, Bernardaud had bought out the two original founders, making him the sole owner.

Leonard Bernardaud Builds Up the Company

When Bernardaud bought out the original founders of the porcelain company, he made a few changes that proved to be lucrative. His first change was to increase the company?s production capacity. After that, he made his porcelain available in other markets, such as the United States. Prior to him taking over the company, Bernardaud porcelain wasn?t available in the USA. Over the years, the company grew under his leadership.

Leonard?s Two Sons Take Over

Two of Leonard?s sons, Michel and Jacques, took over the company after Leonard. His sons helped the company stay prosperous through both the Great Depression and World War II because they expanded the company?s product lines during that time. After the war, they introduced a new kiln, France?s first ?tunnel kiln?, which stayed in operation for 24 hours a day. This kiln used a clean, efficient energy source and generally improved the process of firing the porcelain.

The Bernardaud China Company Today

Today, the Bernardaud China Company is still going strong. Their porcelain and china products are widely available throughout the world. The company is still in the family and in 1962, Pierre Bernardaud began running it. In 1979, he asked his son Michele to join the company so that he could help turn it into a global brand. Michele Bernardaud, who represented the fifth generation of porcelain manufacturers from the Bernardaud family, modernized the company and continues to do so to this day. Bernardaud China is known for its simple, elegant styles and high quality products as well as their continued dedication to innovation. Patterns such as Athena Gold, Cristal, Louvre, and Naxos are all popular styles that are also timeless classics. View our collection of Bernardaud China here.