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satisfaction, he arranged to import this type of French china. He returned loaded with
tea sets, vases, and related wares, purchased from several small Limoges potteries.
Hopes were dashed. Customers liked neither the French shapes nor the decorations.
French plates were small; Americans wanted big plates.
Loathe to accept defeat, David decided on a bold step. He moved his family to
France with the thought of teaching the Limoges potters to make china in accordance
with American taste and table requirements. At first, he set up a "decorating"
shop,
and developed such patterns as the "Moss Rose"; next, he built his own pottery in
order to make the shapes that the established Limoges potters refused to try. So, we
had an American in France with American production methods, using the Limoges clays
and Limoges potters to make a French product intended (at first exclusively) for the
American market.
The creation of the Haviland decorating shop in Limoges was a very radical step,
for it went counter to established Guild practice. Until Haviland arrived on the scene,
Limoges made only whiteware and sent it to Paris for decorating. These artisans, when
brought to Limoges from Paris, rebelled at Haviland's change in decorating methods and
styles.
New apprentices and those who would teach them the new American patterns and
styles of decorating had to go about in groups in order to protect themselves from
physical violence. Protests and riots were frequent. Gradually, difficulties were
smoothed out and David Haviland's venture was established.
In 1842, the first shipment of "Made-In-France" Haviland arrived in America. Its
success was immediate. Soon the factory began to produce china in larger quantities
than had ever before been attempted at Limoges. From the very first, it was American
streamlined, mass-production methods suited, as need be, to the employment of French
workmen. Thereafter, because of the great success of Haviland, all the other Limoges
potters followed suit and entered the American market with shapes and decorations in
the Haviland manner. Thus, the whole china industry at Limoges was revolutionized by
Haviland.
To show the rapid growth in the yearly export of Haviland-Limoges, statistics
reflect that exports for the first ten years were $100,000 - 1840-1850; $1,500,000 -
1880; and $3,000,000 in 1900, with 2500 workmen employed.
David Haviland died in 1875 and left the business to Charles and Theodore
Haviland. One tribute to Haviland read as follows:
"Haviland's success may be atributed to his determination not to pander to
public taste but by artistic excellence to elevate it and encourage a love for beau-
tiful things in articles of every day-use."
********
Mr. Stanley McClure of the National Parks Service, Lincoln Museum, 511 10th Street,
N. W., Washington, D. C., was interviewed on July 11, 1952. The National Park Service
has been the purchasing office for White House china and other equipment for many years
and their records of receipted bills run well back into the 19th Century. Mr. MeClure
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"ocrText": "00-1-3264\n-5-\nsatisfaction, he arranged to import this type of French china. He returned loaded with\ntea sets, vases, and related wares, purchased from several small Limoges potteries.\nHopes were dashed. Customers liked neither the French shapes nor the decorations.\nFrench plates were small; Americans wanted big plates.\nLoathe to accept defeat, David decided on a bold step. He moved his family to\nFrance with the thought of teaching the Limoges potters to make china in accordance\nwith American taste and table requirements. At first, he set up a \"decorating\"\nshop,\nand developed such patterns as the \"Moss Rose\"; next, he built his own pottery in\norder to make the shapes that the established Limoges potters refused to try. So, we\nhad an American in France with American production methods, using the Limoges clays\nand Limoges potters to make a French product intended (at first exclusively) for the\nAmerican market.\nThe creation of the Haviland decorating shop in Limoges was a very radical step,\nfor it went counter to established Guild practice. Until Haviland arrived on the scene,\nLimoges made only whiteware and sent it to Paris for decorating. These artisans, when\nbrought to Limoges from Paris, rebelled at Haviland's change in decorating methods and\nstyles.\nNew apprentices and those who would teach them the new American patterns and\nstyles of decorating had to go about in groups in order to protect themselves from\nphysical violence. Protests and riots were frequent. Gradually, difficulties were\nsmoothed out and David Haviland's venture was established.\nIn 1842, the first shipment of \"Made-In-France\" Haviland arrived in America. Its\nsuccess was immediate. Soon the factory began to produce china in larger quantities\nthan had ever before been attempted at Limoges. From the very first, it was American\nstreamlined, mass-production methods suited, as need be, to the employment of French\nworkmen. Thereafter, because of the great success of Haviland, all the other Limoges\npotters followed suit and entered the American market with shapes and decorations in\nthe Haviland manner. Thus, the whole china industry at Limoges was revolutionized by\nHaviland.\nTo show the rapid growth in the yearly export of Haviland-Limoges, statistics\nreflect that exports for the first ten years were $100,000 - 1840-1850; $1,500,000 -\n1880; and $3,000,000 in 1900, with 2500 workmen employed.\nDavid Haviland died in 1875 and left the business to Charles and Theodore\nHaviland. One tribute to Haviland read as follows:\n\"Haviland's success may be atributed to his determination not to pander to\npublic taste but by artistic excellence to elevate it and encourage a love for beau-\ntiful things in articles of every day-use.\"\n********\nMr. Stanley McClure of the National Parks Service, Lincoln Museum, 511 10th Street,\nN. W., Washington, D. C., was interviewed on July 11, 1952. The National Park Service\nhas been the purchasing office for White House china and other equipment for many years\nand their records of receipted bills run well back into the 19th Century. Mr. MeClure"
}