Starting back in the renaissance era, Limoges Boxes was something that was given to anyone, anytime but was an art form of the era but not as per painting and sculpturing but more of what was known as an exquisite subtle endearment appreciated by both rich and poor.
The reason behind this was the nature of the ” beast” so to speak”
Made mainly of a non-expensive material. Porcelain but could have extras, which increased the financial value as well as the personal value.
Because of these special relationships between the art form and the reason it was given, usually to women by they lovers, and later when Valentines day became the in thing , it became not only one of the favorites but one of the most wanted gifts which brought about the birth of what was known as the Valentines Day Limoges Boxes.
As mentioned, made or porcelain but with extras like inlays of gold and pearls and sometimes even diamonds added major value to this boxes but what really brought out the art form was the ability of the craftsman to miniaturize works of art on these objects to the point where it was replicas wide spread from the Mona Lisa, parts of the Sistine chapel and when it came to the Valentines Day Limoges Boxes, roses, hearts and cupids were the call of the day.
These artists as they were later known as became so much in demand they now became even more well known and wanted by the public than people like Picasso and other painters, not only because of the costs but because to do what they do at such a small scale was an art form itself.
As most of these Limoges boxes was a personal gift or from lover to lover it became very important heirlooms and was very rarely, especially the valuable expensive ones, found up for sale or auction unless someone died without heirs or the heirs themselves had no clue what they had to even needed it.
The importance of the Valentines day gift has increased exponentially over the years as this day became more and more commercialized but the value and meaning behind the Limoges box stayed constant and that is, made for lovers by lovers at heart to be shared by lovers to prove love.
So if you can get your hands on a vintage one, wow you are lucky other wise you will have to go specifically to France to find out if these craftsman’s not only still exist but is they still practice their craft.
