Emile Bourgeois, Grand Depot, Paris




 

Location and period of operation:

Emile Bourgeois

Paris & Marseille

1862

post WWII

 

Emile Bourgeois was not a pottery manufacturer - he is included here because he was a significant retailer of Stoke-on-Trent ceramics and glassware at his Paris based Grand Dépôt. 

Emile introduced Parisien Society to fine English ceramics.

  • Emile Bourgeois was born in 1832 in Normandy, France. At the age of 16 he went to work as a clerk in a china shop in Paris.

  • In 1856 he moved to London and became a salesman for major English pottery manufacturers, primarily those based in Stoke-on-Trent. 

  • 1860 - Emile returned to France and in 1862, at the age of 30, he took out a lease on space at 17 Rue Drouot in Paris - initialy a modest outlet for English ceramic ware. Around a year later, at 21 Rue Drouot, he opened 'Le Grand Dépôt'.  Soon the store included French porcelain and earthenware often produced to Emile's own specifications. 

  • In 1879 a branch store was opened at 33 Rue St. Féreol in Marseille and later the Paris business expanded to include the adjacent building No. 23.

  • The business grew and sold decorative and useful porcelain and earthenware as well as crystal glassware. It advertised itself as the largest house in the world for table, desert and crystal services. 

  • Emile retired in 1905. The business continued until after the Second World War. 

 

 

 

covers of catalogues for Le Grand Depot of Emile Bourgeois

 

 


BB
New Stone

BB refers to 'Best Body' 
the impressed marks indicate a manufacturing date of March 1872

this example was distributed by
Emile Bourgeois   
the use of ENGLAND indicates 
a date after 1890

ANEMONE was a popular pattern produced by Minton from the mid-19th century onwards 



Terre Des Fer
(Ironstone) 
Seul Dépôt à Paris
(only house (shop) in Paris) 

17 Rue Drouot

the use of the registration diamond shows that this ware
was English manufacture 

 

Porcelaines Fayences & Cristaux
Grand Depot
Emile Bourgeois
21 Rue Drouot PARIS

 

 

 

BWM & C

Pomona is the pattern name

BWM & C are the initials of the English pottery company - Brown-Westead, Moore & Co

 


BWM & Co

Variete is the pattern name

 

Faience Anglaise 
(English Earthenware) 

Grand Depot
de
Porcelaines & Faiences 
21 Rue Drouot
Paris
Succursale
(branch) 
33 Rue St Ferreol
Marseille
Terre de Fer
 (Ironstone) 

the registration diamond shows that this design was first registered on 6th December 1882
Brown-Westead, Moore & Co changed their name in 1904 and so this ware was made c.1883-1904

 


Fabricatiõn Anglaise 
(English made) 

Cauldon Place
England

 Brown-Westead, Moore & Co became Cauldon Ltd in 1904
the name 'Cauldon Place' was used 1904-1920

 

    


"Silicaon China"
Quality Superisure
Importe D Angleterre 

Silicon China was a trade name of
the English pottery company - Booths Ltd 
it was introduced c. 1906

 

 

Goods
from

Dresden
Longton
Fenton
Stoke
Cauldon Place
Etruria
Shelton
Hanley 

 

 

Mintons
English
Majolica
Stoke on Trent

 Produits
de

Cobridge
Burslem
Dalehall
Longport
Newport
Tunstall
Smallthorne
Sandyford
Green Head

 

 

 


21 Rue Drouot, Paris
Google Street View 2018 

although 'Le Grand Depot' closed after the Second World Ware the buildings are still standing

 

Comments, questions, contributions? email: Steve Birks