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Origin and history

The Adrien-Dubouché National Museum, located in Limoges, was founded in 1845 by Tiburce Morisot, Prefect of Haute-Vienne. Originally located in the prefecture, it collected various collections: paintings, sculptures, art objects and specimens of natural history. The Bulletin of the Archaeological and Historical Society of Limousin, published since 1846, lists the donations and acquisitions of the museum, reflecting a typical eclectic taste of the nineteenth century.

In 1865, Adrien Dubouché, son of a sheet trader, took the volunteer direction of the museum and enriched his collections with donations and bequests from ceramic manufacturers. In 1875 he acquired the collection of 587 pieces of ceramics from his friend Albert Jacquemart, whom he offered to the city of Limoges. In recognition, the museum takes its name in its lifetime. When he died in 1881, the museum and the school were nationalized, and the direction was entrusted to Auguste Lâuvrier de Lajolais.

The current building, designed by architect Pierre-Henri Mayeux, was inaugurated in 1900. It combines modern metal structures and an interior decoration inspired by Art Nouveau, with mosaics, stained glass and decorative paintings. The museum was listed as a historic monument in 1992. In 2012, after a major renovation led by Boris Podrecca, he reopened his doors with a chronological journey and a mezzanine dedicated to ceramic techniques.

The museum houses nearly 18,000 works of ceramics and glass, covering periods from antiquity to contemporary times, and from various civilizations. It includes a public collection of porcelain of Limoges, as well as pieces from renowned glass centres such as Venice, Nevers and Bohemia. In 2025, the museum suffered a burglary, with an estimated cost of 9.5 million euros.

The museum's architecture, marked by an Italian façade and regional materials, incorporates porcelain decorative elements and plant sgraffits. The interior, decorated with stylized naturalist motifs, reflects the artistic influences of the late 19th century. The museum is now a reference point for the history of ceramics and porcelain, while remaining anchored in the industrial and artistic heritage of Limoges.

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