Bernardaud

A number of their collections have achieved such iconic status that they are now widely recognized as distinct cultural benchmarks. At MDMAISON, we offer our clients a curated approach to choosing pieces. You can buy them right now — including both timeless top sellers with historical motifs and the latest fresh releases with new decorative twists.

Evaluating Bernardaud Pieces

Without a doubt, Bernardaud has remained one of the defining characters in Limoges porcelain and a leader in the luxury dining world since 1863. The philosophy is built on an elegant balance between the heritage of European aristocratic style and the innovation of contemporary design trends. 

Discerning collectors and enthusiasts prize Bernardaud porcelain for its superb translucent whiteness, ultra-fine structure, refined radiance, and premium quality. Experts view the creations as investment-grade art objects due to their incredibly complex artisan techniques and elegant 24-karat gold finishes. Their value is backed up by regular collaborations with the main figures of the art market, including Jeff Koons and Marina Abramovic, as well as Kees van Dongen, César, and René Crevel.

The Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton chains, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants (including Alain Ducasse's establishments), buy their plate sets. Restaurateurs invest in these items not only for the reputation but for their resilience: the tableware withstands industrial dishwashers for years without any degradation to the gold plating.

We believe that the true beauty of such porcelain is its ability to advance the moment. It can turn a simple everyday meal into an artistic experience, looking just as elegant with foie gras or truffle beef tartare as it does with a burger or a classic omelet.

The Historical Significance of Bernardaud Porcelain

A defining characteristic of many French manufacturers is their legacy as family-owned businesses. Similar to the well-known Raynaud brand, the house of Bernardaud china continues to be managed by the founder's family today.

Another important fact is the brand’s close connection with art throughout its entire history. To create masterpieces, they constantly invite the most talented artists of the era. Manufactura remains the only brand in the world authorized by the Chagall Foundation to reproduce Marc Chagall’s works, including a special dining collection featuring designs created from the artist’s original vision.

Remarkable Techniques in Production, Hand Painting, and Decoration

The exceptional handcrafted quality of each piece, along with its artistic motifs, contemporary design solutions, and beautifully executed decorative details resonates most deeply with discerning buyers.

Production is not streamlined: about 40 highly specialized artisans work sequentially on the creation of a single item. Then, it goes through a temperature of 1400°C (2550°F) and is fired to a state of zero porosity. Thanks to this firing process, Bernardaud Limoges porcelain does not absorb odors, does not stain, and is highly resistant to minor chipping.

Applying intricate, colorful decorative motifs requires firing the piece 4 to 6 times, as different ceramic pigments melt at varying temperatures. Unlike J.L. Coquet and Haviland, the heritage brand operates its own high-tech printing house for decals, though a significant number of gold and platinum elements are finished by hand.

The Bernardaud china collections involves specialized decorative techniques exclusive to the manufacturer:

• Bleu de four — a traditional cobalt coating method
• High-precision chromolithography for executing intricate, detailed patterns, particularly within historical dinnerware
• Artistic lithophane — an ancient technique of engraving on biscuit porcelain
• Filet main (Hand-gilding) — the meticulous manual application of gold, platinum, or colored borders while the piece rotates on a specialized stand (tournette)
• The Trompe-l'œil effect is achieved through collaborations with contemporary artists, combining advanced glazing techniques with visual and tactile transformations of the porcelain surface.

For Special Occasions and Everyday Use

From functional companion sets and elegant tea and coffee pairs to formal dinner service and elegant table setting, the Bernardaud fine china range includes every category of tableware. Through its meticulous production techniques, even highly decorated pieces featuring gold and platinum details maintain their appearance and durability over time. However, the factory also offers a choice of quiet luxury collections with clean surfaces that lack any decor, but showcase unique imprints and finishes. 

Thanks to its complex production processes, even the most richly decorated pieces with extensive gold and metal detailing guarantee long-term use without losing their original appearance. Most of the lines are dishwasher safe, and any pieces without metallic detailing are also microwave safe. This is exactly why owners of superyachts, private jets, and luxury residences shop Bernardaud dinnerware, often with custom options, to meet all their needs for their properties.

Style and Aesthetic

To truly feel the greatness and uniqueness of Bernardaud Limoges china, choose from their concepts and stylistic directions:

• Historical reconstructions of archival palace dinnerware sets from the 18th and 19th centuries
• Architectural minimalism where the beauty lies in flawless white porcelain surfaces
• Neoclassical and Empire-inspired collections created for a sense of refined, balanced luxury
• Animal and botanical Bernardaud fine china completely inspired by flora and fauna
• Conceptual art avant-garde with radical experiments at the intersection of tableware and museum objects

The Collections We Admire: From Popular Favorites to Ultra-Conceptual

• Marinette in the spirit of Picasso's Mediterranean aesthetic with its abstract shapes and bright marine motifs
• Bold animalistic safari-chic Bernardaud Tiger decor with a detailed texture of tiger print, balancing on the edge of natural wildness and high fashion.
• Avant-garde Hervé Van der Straeten from the famous jeweler with an optical play of broken geometric lines and a contrast of dense gold plating with white porcelain.
• Sophisticated floral Albertine with wild rose motifs and a light vintage flair reflecting the aesthetic of European Provence gardens.
• Aux Oiseaux luxury tableware design represents a luxurious oriental style in the spirit of Japanese prints.
• Constance Bernardaud Limoges porcelain in the Empire style with leaves and emphasized heavy gold inlay.
• Minimalist Ecume with a complex border texture resembling the porous structure of sea foam.
• Jardin Indien with a vibrant tropical pattern of lush Indian gardens.

Bernardaud China at MDMAISON

Decide on your Bernardaud porcelain collection to match your interior or explore other exclusive handcrafted dinnerware collections made in France by authentic French manufacturers. Use our AI decorator to visualize your choices, or simply ask us for recommendations during a free consultation. We work with projects of different scales, from private clients to B2B collaborations.

FAQ

Does Bernardaud belong to the Limoges porcelain manufacturers?

Yes, it does. Bernardaud is a family-owned brand with a long history, and the entire production process takes place in Limoges.

Why do experts highly value Bernardaud porcelain among other porcelain houses?

Bernardaud is valued not only for producing luxury tableware but also for creating highly decorated porcelain pieces featuring sophisticated artistic motifs and exquisite precious metal accents.

Can I use this tableware for everyday dining?

Yes. It is an excellent example of luxury dinnerware where the quality is high enough that the expensive decoration can endure frequent use and standard kitchen appliances.