1980 Paul Durand “Christiane et Fifi” Limoges-Turgot Porcelain Collector Plates, Pair

The Piece

A charming pair of vintage French porcelain collector plates by Paul Durand, titled “Christiane et Fifi,” issued by Manufacture Limoges-Turgot in 1980 as part of the Les Enfants de Durand / Durand’s Children series.

Each plate features Durand’s softly sentimental illustration of a young girl in a yellow raincoat holding an umbrella beside her small dog, Fifi. The palette is painterly and atmospheric, with washed blues, stormy brushwork, and warm golden tones that give the scene a sweet, rainy-day nostalgia. Somehow, a child in a raincoat and a tiny dog have more emotional range than half the furniture market, but here we are.

The plates include their original certificates of authenticity, with each plate bearing its own limited-edition number.

Design & Construction

Produced in genuine grand feu Limoges porcelain, these plates were issued as decorative collector pieces rather than tableware. The backs are fully marked with French text, Limoges-Turgot insignia, edition details, and the title “Christiane et Fifi.”

The reverse inscription notes that this was a limited edition permanently closed in 1980, and the accompanying certificates confirm the plates were fired in a single production period. Each plate includes a metal wall hanger, making them ready for display in a gallery wall, nursery, cottage interior, French country kitchen, or collected porcelain arrangement.

The artwork is signed Paul Durand on the front, adding a delicate artist-driven quality that feels more illustrative than mass-produced. The look is whimsical, sentimental, and distinctly late 20th-century European collector porcelain.

History & Provenance

Limoges porcelain has long been associated with fine French ceramic production, especially hard-paste porcelain known for its white body, refined surface, and decorative clarity. This pair was produced by Manufacture Limoges-Turgot, marked 1770 France, and issued in 1980 as part of a limited collector series.

This specific plate, “Christiane et Fifi,” is identified on the reverse as Bradex No. 18-L52-1.3, indicating it is the third issue in the series. The included paper certificates further document authenticity, edition status, and individual plate numbers.

Why This Belongs in Your Home

This pair is ideal for someone who loves French porcelain, vintage illustration, cottage interiors, children’s room decor, or layered gallery walls with a little softness and story. They have the decorative presence of collectible Limoges porcelain without feeling overly formal, which is useful because not every wall needs to look like it is waiting for a duchess to inspect it.

Displayed together, the plates create a sweet, nostalgic vignette. They would be especially beautiful mixed with antique frames, botanical prints, small gilt mirrors, or blue-and-white porcelain.

Product Details

Condition Notes

Good vintage condition overall. The illustrated fronts appear bright and well-preserved, with no major chips or cracks visible in the provided photos. The backs show light handling wear, and the certificates show age-related creasing and wear. Wall hangers are attached.