Limoges has strong antecedents in the production of decorative objects.

The city had been the most famous European center of vitreous enamel production in the twelfth century, and Limoges enamel is known as Opus de Limogia or Labor Limogiae.

Limoges had also been the site of a minor industry producing plain faience earthenware since the 1730s.

The manufacturing of hard-paste porcelain at Limoges is established by Turgot in 1771 following the discovery of local supplies of kaolin and a material similar to petuntse in the economically distressed area at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, near Limoges.

The materials, which are quarried beginning in 1768, are used to produce hard-paste porcelain similar to Chinese porcelain.