Limoges Hand-Painted Pig Trinket Boxes — Pair, 4” Tall

Two little piggies dressed for a night on the town. This whimsical pair of hand-painted Limoges porcelain boxes—him in a tux with boutonnière, her in a beaded little black dress—opens to tiny hidden compartments, the French way of tucking treasures into charm. Gilt brass mounts clasp with that satisfying Limoges “click.” Estate-kept and ready to delight a vanity, desk, or curio shelf.

Specifications

• Maker: Limoges (France)
• Type: Hinged trinket boxes, figural pair
• Marks: “Peint Main Limoges France” (hand-painted)
• Material: Porcelain; gilt brass mounts
• Height: 4 in (each)
• Width: 2 in (each)
• Depth: 2 in (each)
• Condition: Preowned, very good — no chips, cracks, or repairs; bright enamels
• Provenance: One-owner estate
• Era: Late 20th century
• SKU: HD-COOL-30

Brand / Pattern Story (quick read)

Limoges porcelain blossomed after local kaolin was discovered near Limoges in 1768, enabling true hard-paste porcelain in France. By the nineteenth century, the region’s workshops—famously including Haviland—became shorthand for fine, translucent bodies and hand-painted decoration. Hinged miniatures evolved from snuff and keepsake boxes carried by the fashionable, and today remain beloved for their wit and craftsmanship. This pig couple embodies that tradition—French humor married to meticulous handwork.

Limoges porcelain grew from a decisive 1768 discovery of kaolin near the city of Limoges, which allowed France to produce true hard-paste porcelain. During the nineteenth century the area’s factories—most prominently Haviland—helped define the refined, translucent body and hand-painted decoration now associated with “Limoges.” Small hinged boxes developed from earlier snuff and keepsake containers and became tokens of fashion and affection. Authentic examples are typically hand-painted and often signed or marked “Peint Main Limoges France.” This figural pair—a tuxedoed gentleman pig and his elegantly dressed companion—captures the region’s enduring blend of technical excellence and playful storytelling, with crisp enamels, gilt brass mounts, and a tidy clasp that protects a tiny hidden compartment. It’s a miniature expression of French artistry designed to charm the eye and hold a secret.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Limoges-france
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/204538
https://www.haviland.com/en/history/