Four à porcelaine des Casseaux, Porcelain heating furnace in Limoges, France
The Four à porcelaine des Casseaux is a cylindrical brick kiln built for firing porcelain pieces. The structure features multiple internal chambers arranged in a specialized firing system designed to handle large quantities of ceramic ware simultaneously.
Built in 1900 for the Gerard-Dufraisseix-Abbott factory, the kiln used a reversed flame system for even heat distribution. It operated for decades before being decommissioned in the mid-20th century when gas-fired technology became the industry standard.
The furnace embodies the bond between Limoges and porcelain making, which shaped the city's identity for generations. You can sense how workers organized their labor around this central structure and how it defined the community's daily rhythm.
The monument sits in the city center and is reachable on foot or by public transport. Plan to spend time exploring the interior, as the structure is large and there is much to observe about its construction and design.
This is the last surviving round kiln of its kind in France, built using a special reversed flame design. Its design allowed thousands of porcelain pieces to be fired simultaneously, and it remains remarkably efficient in its engineering.
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