Our pieces are handmade but mass-produced, so a mold must be made from the model and sent to the factory. Once the model is completely dry, it can be molded. Once the first mold has been made, it is sent to Limoges to validate the design. Once this prototype has been validated, the Paris workshop can get down to making the matrix, also known as the “mold mother”.

The matrix, also known as the “mold mother” or “mold of the mold”, is used to generate several molds, each of which has a limited lifespan (around 40 parts). It can be made of plaster or silicone. The manufacturing molds, cast in plaster from the matrix, are then used by the factory to make all our porcelain pieces.

The pouring process

The porcelain casting stage takes place in Limoges, using traditional techniques. For each piece, the mold is closed, then filled to the brim with liquid porcelain. The craftsman then waits for the plaster to absorb the water from the porcelain. The mold is emptied as soon as the porcelain has reached the required thickness: it then remains coated on the mold walls. Once this porcelain crust has hardened, the piece is removed from the mold, then dried completely outside the mold.

Drying and firing

Before firing, the pieces are dried. This drying stage allows the water contained in the paste to evaporate completely. Porcelain then requires several firings. The first firing is at 980°, known as the “dégourdi” firing. They may or may not be glazed, and are then fired again at a high temperature, 1400°. It is at this temperature that porcelain reveals its transparency, whiteness and strength. Between the first and second firings, the pieces can be glazed: one by one, they are dipped in a bath of glaze that gives the porcelain “cookie” its glaze and shiny appearance. Our factory uses the dipping technique for this step.