Limoges Porcelain - Argan Statue - The Imaginary Invalid - Period: Early 20th Century

Lovely and rare collector's statue, in Limoges porcelain, theatrical character representing "Argan" from Molière's famous comedy: "The Imaginary Invalid".
Argan is the imaginary patient, what in scholarly language is called a hypochondrium. Apart from this defect, he is rather a good man and a good father. However, he is under the control of a second hypocritical woman whom he does not want to upset, as well as doctors who exploit his belief in an imaginary disease.
As he is blinded by this obsession with the disease, he does not see that we want his money above all. His flaw makes him weak, careless with his daughters, and foolish. But as he is brave, deep down, he comes to his senses when his eyes are opened to the true nature of his surroundings.

Period: Early 20th century
Dimensions: Height: 42cm x Width: 16cm x Depth: 14cm
Signature on base.

In the 1760s, in the vicinity of Limoges, in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche to be precise, a white powder was discovered, which women sometimes used for their laundry.

It is actually kaolin, one of the essential ingredients in the preparation of porcelain, along with quartz and feldspar. It turns out that many kaolin deposits exist around Limoges.
Turgot, then intendant of Limousin, quickly understood all the economic interest of this discovery.
The Court of France represented an important market, because the king and his courtiers imported porcelain from Saxony at great prices.

The water of the Vienne will keep the mills turning, the forests are full of firewood, and there are expert potters in Limoges.
Turgot supports the project of a factory in Limoges. In 1771, hard porcelain was produced for the first time in Limoges. King Louis XV made this factory a Royal factory which then passed under the control of the Count of Artois, brother of Louis XVI.

The foresight of Limoges allowed the birth of this white gold, which will become a godsend for the region.