Rochard Ladybug and Lily of the Valley Pot Limoges Box
Sweet little bells of lily of the valley rise from a garden pot, and a ladybug has stopped by to visit. The little springtime scene is a Rochard design, modeled in porcelain and painted by hand in Limoges, France.
Muguet for the First of May
In France, May Day is the Fete du Muguet, when friends and family exchange sprigs of lily of the valley for luck in the year ahead. The custom goes back to King Charles IX in 1561, and street vendors still sell little bouquets on every corner each May. The ladybug, another symbol of good fortune, doubles the luck here.
A Pot Full of Luck
- A Rochard flower piece, hand-painted in Limoges, France
- Lily of the valley in a pot with a ladybug
- Pairs well with pansy, orchid and frog boxes
Springtime Greetings
Place it on a kitchen windowsill, a potting bench or a bedside table where spring feels close all year. It makes a lovely May Day present, a Mother's Day surprise, a good luck token before a new job or a move, or a bridal shower present for a bride carrying lily of the valley.
From Kaolin to Keepsake
Limoges porcelain began after kaolin turned up near Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche in 1768. Its hard-paste body, fired at very high heat, still holds painted flowers like these.