The story of Haviland dinnerware is an epic one. David Haviland was an ingenious, albeit unknown U.S. ceramics designer. One day, a customer showed up with an unusual tea cup in need of repair. Haviland was awestruck by the pristine elegance of this tea cup. It was like nothing he had ever seen. He thus embarked on a worldwide quest to locate the porcelain factory in France where the teacup was made.

His travels brought him to the region of Limoges, France, a place known for its exceptional kaolin clay (the silicate basis for exclusive French pottery). Haviland opened a factory in Limoges and brought his family over from the United States. Haviland's practice of decorating his porcelain in-house, rather than shipping it to Paris, stirred resentment among the French pottery elite.

Indeed, the French protested Haviland's in-house decorating so much that company employees had to be careful when walking alone at night. That said, ultimately, Haviland's dinnerware sets became accepted and even revered by his fellow French artisans. In 1879, David Haviland passed away, and his two sons took over the family business.

These sons got into terrible arguments which tore the business apart. Charles Haviland and Thomas Haviland established two separate 'Haviland' factories and fought for control of the brand. The Great Depression finished Charles' company, and the Haviland brand was reunited in 1941. Today, collectors highly prize the 60,000 Haviland dinnerware pieces created during the original Haviland family ownership.