Cobalt Blue and Gold Limoges Boxes
Cobalt blue and gold Limoges boxes pair the deepest blue in the kiln with bright gilt brushwork, the old royal combination of French porcelain. Hearts with red flowers, eggs with gold lattice, a jazz club piano and a Petrus wine bottle wear the same midnight glaze. Each piece is painted by hand in Limoges, France, and closed with a hinged lid and a metal clasp.
Gold laid over a cobalt ground gives a richness that flat color cannot match. Footed eggs in blue and gold stripes, a seashell with a shimmering finish, a striped trunk and a tent shaped box show how far the pairing stretches. Rochard adds a gold and cobalt Buddha and a heart resting on a brass butterfly stand. This is the category for the person who builds a collection around color rather than theme. A French horn for the holidays, a cobalt menorah, a thimble trimmed in gold and an egg holding a tiny perfume bottle can stand on one shelf and look like they belong together. Set them against white or walnut, under a single lamp, and the gold catches every bit of light.
