If you have had the privilege of witnessing the manufacture of French Limoges boxes from start to finish, your admiration for these true works of art would increase a thousand fold! Limoges, France is world-famous for its porcelain. Limoges boxes, small trinket or pill boxes, have been meticulously crafted in the Limousine region of central France since the 1700s. Today, very few select craftsmen are left in Limoges who still create these labor-intensive art pieces exactly in the same manner as in the 1700s.A Limoges box is made in two or more parts. Each part is made in a separate mold. After allowing it time to set, the pieces are removed from the mold, are hand-sponged to smooth and remove any extra particles. The pieces are then fired in a special kiln. During this firing, each piece may shrink about 15%. The shrinkage causes each piece to ldd take on a slightly variant shape from any other from the same mold. After the pieces cool, they are glazed and fired in the kiln again at a very high temperature. Now the pieces are ready to receive artwork. Each piece is exquisitely hand-painted by a Limoges artist, one color at-a-time! With each additional color, the Limoges receives another round of firing (3-4 or even up to 7-8 firings). Among numerous colors used, some boxes are decorated with 24K gold and/or chrome, which gives the Limoges box a beautiful gold or silver shine. Once the Limoges box parts have been fully painted and have gone through several rounds of firings in the kiln, they are ready to be hinged. The hinging process is an art form in itself and is performed by highly skilled craftsmen. As each piece is unique, the brass hinge has to be individually cut and fitted to it.