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Origin and history

The Clignancourt Porcelain Manufacture, located in the Montmartre district of Paris, was created in 1775 by Pierre Deruelle, architect and entrepreneur. She placed herself under the protection of the Count of Provence, brother of King Louis XVI and future Louis XVIII, who granted him a patent on 25 Oct. 1775. Production then adopted the brand L. S. X. (Louis Stanislas Xavier), replacing the original windmill. The factory employed up to 93 workers and specialized in luxurious neoclassical dishes, often decorated with gold.

Competition with the Royal Sèvres factory was intense, as the latter held the monopoly of polychromy and gold. In 1779, a search at Clignancourt revealed painters using prohibited colours. After a long procedure, the Count of Provence obtained a remission of prosecution in 1787, allowing the manufacture to access the same privileges as Sèvres. The pieces produced, now visible at the Musée de Montmartre, were distinguished by their finesse and refined style.

The French Revolution marked a turning point for the manufacture. In 1790, Pierre Deruelle became the first prosecutor of the commune of Montmartre, before ceding the direction to his son-in-law, Alexandre Moitte, in 1792. The disappearance of the aristocratic clientele and economic difficulties led to its closure in 1799. Moitte sold the site in 1800, and despite an attempt by Pierre Marie Caillois to revive it, the factory did not survive. The buildings, partially demolished in 1909, now retain only a few remains, including a 15th century turret that was listed as a historical monument in 1965.

The turret, the vestige of the wall, is the only remaining element listed as historical monuments since 31 May 1965. Located at 61-63 rue du Mont-Cenis, it bears witness to the industrial and artistic history of Montmartre, linked to the rise of French porcelain in the 18th century. Archaeological and historical research, including that of Régine de Plinval de Guillebon, has documented its activity and its importance in the Parisian manufacturing landscape.

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