Limoges Vase

Q: This vase was my stepfather's and is about 6 1/2 inches high. The flowers appear to be painted on the vase. The mark stamped on the bottom is "Limoges, France" with what appears to be a number or symbol in between those two words. The words "Decoree en Perigord" are stamped above that. Can you tell me if it is an actual piece of Limoges china?

A: Limoges is a city in France where porcelain has been made since the middle of the 19th century. Porcelain factories that have operated in Limoges include Haviland, Ahrenfeldt, Guerin, Pouyat, and Elite. The mark on your vase indicates it was made in Limoges and decorated in Perigord, a region in southwest France. Some pieces of porcelain made in Limoges were shipped as undecorated “blanks” to decorating studios in Limoges and other parts of France–and even to European and American artists who worked at home.