Collection of Antique Limoges Butter Pats, Lace Doilies and Primitive Caddy

Important collection of 41 pieces comprising 24 antique and vintage Limoges porcelain butter pats, one vintage wooden caddy with primitive character, and 16 antique European doilies arranged in four groups of four.

The 24 butter pats belong to a varied collection of antique and vintage Limoges porcelain. Butter pats are small individual pieces designed for serving butter at the table. Their use is especially associated with formal table settings of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the presentation of food and the individual arrangement of each table element played an important role in domestic etiquette. At elegant tables, each guest could receive an individual portion of butter served in a small porcelain dish carefully placed beside the dinner plate.

Over time, butter pats became collectible objects in their own right. Their small scale allowed manufacturers to experiment with different shapes, rims, colors, decorations, and painted motifs. For this reason, a collection of butter pats can offer remarkable visual variety within a relatively compact format. The pieces in this collection are particularly appealing for their diversity, age, and connection to the history of dining.

Limoges porcelain holds an important place in the history of French ceramics. The importance of Limoges began to develop in the 18th century after kaolin deposits were discovered in the region. Kaolin is an essential material used to produce hard-paste porcelain that is white, durable, and translucent. Following this discovery, Limoges became one of Europe’s major porcelain-producing centers. Its manufacturers became known for the quality of their porcelain bodies, delicate surfaces, and varied decorations. The butter pats in this collection represent, on a small scale, this French tradition of porcelain made both for everyday use and for the refined presentation of the table.

The caddy is a vintage wooden piece with primitive character. Its form as a small shelf or rack reflects a tradition of simple domestic objects created to store, organize, or display everyday items. The caddy features beautiful patina, areas of sanding, and exposed wood that reveal the passage of time and its previous use. Four small brass hooks remain attached to the front. In this collection, each hook holds one of the four groups of antique doilies. The hooks may be kept as part of the caddy’s design or removed if the piece is to be used as a small shelf, display rack, or spice rack.

The 16 doilies are antique, European textiles arranged in four groups of four. The collection includes several traditional techniques. Bobbin lace is made by intertwining threads held on small bobbins over a lace pillow — one of the great European lace-making traditions practiced in France, Belgium, England, Italy, Spain, and other European textile centers. Filet lace is based on a netted ground decorated with embroidered motifs — flowers, arabesques, geometric forms, and ornamental compositions. Cluny lace belongs to the European bobbin-lace tradition and is known for its ornamental motifs, floral forms, and historical appearance.

The importance of this collection lies in the union of three distinct histories: the history of French porcelain, the history of the dining table, and the history of European textile handwork. It will be of particular interest to collectors of French porcelain, Limoges, objects related to the history of dining, antique European lace, historic textiles, and primitive folk art.

Details 1stDibs reference: LU10969251611522 Period: Early 20th Century Date: 1920 Origin: Europe Materials: Porcelain, Hardwood, Textile Style: Victorian Dimensions: H 5 × W 16 × D 3 IN (caddy); butter pats 3 × 3 IN; doilies 6 × 6 IN Condition: GOOD (one butter pat with a minor chip)