Louis XIII’s porcelain tableware collection makes its Asia debut in Singapore

Louis XIII cognac has a long and storied history of glittering royal banquets and milestone celebrations. The prized cognac was served to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the Palace of Versailles in 1938, toasted to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during a visit to the Louvre museum in 1957, and to US President John F. Kennedy during a state visit at the Elysee Palace in 1961.

Closer to home, Louis XIII was served on the now-defunct Singapore Airlines and British Airways’ Concorde service between Singapore and London.

With its strong association to key gastronomical moments in history, the Remy Cointreau-owned maison has branched out to launch its tableware line, Art de la Table, in Singapore, marking the city-state as the first market in Asia to debut the exquisite porcelain collection. The collection, produced by French porcelain maker, J.L Coquet, was first launched in London last October.

The move signals an expansion of the Louis XIII universe beyond cognac into a lifestyle brand. A total of 750 pieces have been produced, spanning two collections: Soil is Our Soul and Light of Time. Both are rooted in the themes that underpin Louis XIII cognac, whose eaux-de-vie originate exclusively from Grande Champagne.

Each set comprises six pieces including a tea cut set, rice bowl, dinner and dessert plates. About 60 dinnerware pieces from the collection, which are also individually numbered, have been allocated to Singapore, which is one of the maison’s major markets in Asia.

Anne-Laure Pressat, Executive Director of Louis XIII says: “These first Art-de-la-Table collections build upon the centuries-long legacy of Louis XIII, forging a bridge between our esteemed past and a future rich with possibility. They are an invitation to discover a new expression of our timeless art de vivre.”

Inspired by terroir

The Soil is Our Soul collection takes its cues from the chalky soil of Grande Champagne, an essential ingredient of cognac-macking. Each piece features a subtly rough texture on the underside of the plate, reflecting the mineral character of the terroir that produces the eaux-de-vie that go into Louis XIII. The textured surface injects a tactile element when holding the plate.

The other collection, Light of Time shifts the focus from the earth to light. The carved facets on the porcelain pieces are translucent, allowing light to filter through - just like how rays of light enter into the dark cellars, where the eaux-de-vie mature in casks for decades.

According to Louis XIII, the creation of these pristine white porcelain pieces required the development of a dozen new techniques and the involvement of forty artisans at J.L Coquet’s workshop in Limoges in southwest-central France, each contributing to processes ranging from sculpting the porcelain facets to hand-painted detailing. It took the maison about three years to bring the concept to fruition.

To introduce the collection in Asia, Louis XIII Art de la Table partnered with one-Michelin-starred contemporary restaurant Born. Chef-owner Zor Tan created an eight-course menu presented on the new tableware. Upcoming launches of Art de la Table are planned in France, China and the United States.

The Louis XIII Art de la Table collections are available for purchase via the maison’s private client team. Prices start from $688 for a set of two, and bundles from $5,008.