Antique Hand Painted Limoges. 3-Piece Circus Caravan Numbered & Marked. These pieces are believed to have been produced between 1920 and 1930, around the same time that traveling circus groups had begun their transition from trains and horse drawn carts to motorized transport vehicles. The 1920s saw a sudden and fierce uptick in circus-themed items, with this set being one of the finer examples. You’ll note a number of beautifully painted images on each circus car, including a mermaid, monkey, and lion. Each car contains a “secret” hand painted detail on the interior. These pieces are hand signed and numbered. The underside of each circus car bears Limoges’ distinctive “Peint Main” line, indicating that these cars belong to a higher tier of hand decorated pieces, typically worked by one of only a handful of Limoges’ expert artisans. In full, the lead car’s underside is signed with the words Limoges France, Peint Main, No. These pieces are well and truly unique. They sport gorgeous detailing, brass lips and feet, and some of the finest hand-fired hard paste porcelain to have come out of the 20th century. Each car is in a state of remarkable preservation. There are no cracks, chips, or areas showing visible degradation. The original brass chains linking the circus cars together are entirely intact and mount/dismount as intended. The brass lip and foot around the middle caravan has accumulated a fair bit of green patina. Likewise, the brass lion clasp on the middle car is a tad loose. The paints used for these pieces were specially chosen by Limoges’ artists to last the test of time, with the pigments maintaining their original “pop” and colour without any signs of fading. According to a Limoges historian, these paints were kept in a powder form right up until their use, being mixed with a proprietary combination of oils to achieve the perfect shade and consistency. Best as we can tell, this is one of only two Limoges circus caravan sets on the open market. Dimensions: Car #1 and #2 – 1.5″ L x 1″ W x 2″ H Last Tent Car – 1.5″ L x 1″ W x 1.25″ H. Collective Weight: 4.375 oz. We will respond to you within 24 hours and do our best to help you out! Item condition is reflected in the listing photos. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact.