History
From Switzerland to France...
1818 : Jean Louis Richard Pillivuyt founded a porcelain factory in Foëcy. The area was well suited to producing : the neighbouring Sologne's forests for wood, a great quantity of water and the proximity to Limoges where kaolin deposits had just been discovered.
Manufacturing porcelain was the new advanced technology industry of the time, but the beginnings were difficult and discouraging.
1823 : That business was finally successful and Pillivuyt was rewarded with a first medal in… New York!
1847 : The first PILLIVUYT shop was established 46 rue du Paradis in Paris.
Settlement in Mehun sur Yèvre
1854 : Charles Pillivuyt founded his own factory in Mehun-sur-Yèvre.
1855 à 1867 : Charles Pillivuyt led the factory to its peak. The success was rapid and Pillivuyt was honoured with numerous and successive medals during universal expositions. The international reputation of Pillivuyt was incontestable and in 1860, a quarter of the production was already sent all over the world.
1868 : Installation of a steam engine.
1870 : The Pillivuyt properties grew to13 hectares. The workforce of the factory was about 800 people.
1878 à 1889 : Numerous gold medals at international fairs in Paris.
1884 : Opening of a commercial agency in London.
The crisis follows the euphoria
1900 : Competition was strong and Pillivuyt had to fight to keep its markets abroad. Thanks to its agency of London, Pillivuyt succeeded, in particular on the Anglo-Saxon markets and in South America.
During that flourishing period, Pillivuyt created some of its emblematic products such as the lion’s head soup tureen and the Bistro cup which still decorates many counters all over the world.
1903 : Creation of an internal clay mix workshop.
1910 : Strikes of the porcelain employees. (April 30 to August 23, 1910)
1918 : After the First World War, the production takes off thanks to improvements made in the cooking and the manufacturing of the porcelain. With the evolution from wood to coal for the firing of the hard porcelain, 800 employees were sufficient for an increased production. However, in the industry of the porcelain like elsewhere, the crisis follows the euphoria.
Pillivuyt and A. Simon a rebirth !
1945 : Both world wars plunged Pillivuyt into great financial difficulties and Charles II, completely ruined, was forced to sell the factory in 1946. Only 28 employees were still working for Pillivuyt; the buildings and the machines were damaged. The Pillivuyt family gave up the business and Mr. Alfred Simon, a customer, became the owner and the General manager.
1954 : A great movement of modernisation took place and permitted a large increase in the productivity. Construction of two tunnel kilns 60 m length enabled the production, to be doubled.
1962 : Firing with the gas of Lacq (production site of gas in the south of France).
Langenthal and Laufen
1963 : In 1963, Langenthal, a Swiss porcelain producer, entered the capital.
1988 : After some profitable years of collaboration, Langenthal was also acquired by another Swiss group. Pillivuyt then entered into the Swiss Group Laufen, a global specialist in ceramics.
During the 80’s and the 90’s, Pillivuyt went on modernising its installations and innovating its products’ creation.
1995 : Launch of the brand «Porcelaine du Reussy».
SAS Nouvelle Pillivuyt
2002 : Through the impetus provided by its senior executives, the company changed its shareholders..
2003 : Creation of a subsidiary in the USA based in Minneapolis.
2004 : Pillivuyt launched the new clay mix called Pillenium®.
2006 : Purchase of A. Simon in Paris, a wholesaler specialized in the catering industry. Launch of the Alizée line designed by Babette de Rozières.
2007 : Visit of Nicolas Sarkozy in February during his presidential campaign. Launch of the culinary cookware Eden - Launch of new website of Pillivuyt in May. Creation of a jewelry range in collaboration with Patrick Moulin creator of luxury jewelry (http://www.patrick-moulin.fr/). 1st carbon inventory of the profession.
