RARE Signed Limoges France Peint Main Mini Porcelain Asparagus Bunch Hinged Box

As shown. See all photos. While there seem to be a lot of Limoges asparagus boxes, I haven’t encountered another with the same signature/symbol on bottom, nor another bearing a blue bow and bow clasp. Belonged to my late mother, an avid Limoges collector and vegetable lover.

3” x .75”

“Precoce d’Argenteuil is a French heirloom asparagus from the 1700s that gets rave reviews on the Internet. It’s pretty (green spears with lavender buds), early bearing and produces thick, delicious spears that taste wonderful steamed. Since it’s not as productive as the “all male” modern hybrids, it’s only available as seeds, not crowns, which means 3 years, rather than 2 years, to a harvestable yield.”

“Precoce d'Argenteuil means "early variety" of Argenteuil. So what does Argenteuil mean? It doesn't mean anything. It's a place, about 9 miles north of Paris, which used to be an asparagus growing hotspot. Precoce d'Argenteuil's earliest recorded mention is from 1885.”