LOUIS XIII Unveils Art de la Table Collection: Exclusive Interview with Global Executive Director Anne-Laure Pressat

Beneath Miami’s golden sunshine, a plate takes center stage—not just any plate, but one from the LOUIS XIII Art de la Table Collection. Much like the city itself, where light and warmth elevate every experience, these plates are designed to transform dining into something new. The collection is introduced as an extension of the legendary cognac ritual, moving beyond the glass to embrace the full dinner table in a symphony of heritage, craftsmanship, and timeless artistry.

For over a century, LOUIS XIII Cognac has been synonymous with prestige, shared at historic tables from Versailles to the Ritz, from President John F. Kennedy’s toast at the Élysée Palace to Queen Elizabeth II’s celebration at the Louvre. This legacy of unforgettable moments now expands into a new realm: porcelain. 

Crafted by the House of J.L Coquet, a 200-year-old institution in Limoges known as the “LOUIS XIII of porcelain,” the Art de la Table Collection carries forward this spirit of excellence. Their extra-white porcelain, cherished by Michelin-starred chefs for its purity, becomes the canvas for these creations.

Forty artisans spent three years bringing the collection to life, embodying two defining themes of LOUIS XIII: terroir and time.

The collection is offered in two editions: Soil is Our Soul and Light of Time, each limited to 750 individually numbered pieces—a nod to the capacity of a LOUIS XIII tierçon. Every set includes six refined elements: large plate, soup plate, dessert plate, rice bowl, tea set, and coffee set.

Soil is Our Soul

This edition pays homage to the chalky earth of Grande Champagne, the birthplace of LOUIS XIII. Through advanced 3D scanning, the texture of Domaine du Grollet’s chalky stone is imprinted directly onto porcelain. Artisans glaze, brush, and reveal this texture in a meticulous process, leaving diners with a tactile connection to the land. On the reverse, a laser-engraved fleur-de-lys and three subtle hoops recall the wooden tierçons that cradle eaux-de-vie during decades of aging.

Light of Time

Inspired by the dark cellars where eaux-de-vie rest and mature, this design introduces a groundbreaking technique: porcelain carved from beneath to allow beams of light to pass through with remarkable translucency. Finished with hand-painted copper lining that echoes Cognac stills, each piece mirrors the crystal facets of a LOUIS XIII glass, where light reveals amber depths.

Both collections are available for purchase via the LOUIS XIII e-Boutique. Prices for Soil is Our Soul range from $500–$600 per piece and $3,400 for a full set. Light of Time ranges from $500–$750 per piece and $4,000 for a full set. 

To understand the creative journey behind the collections—Miami Living chatted with Anne-Laure Pressat, Global Executive Director of LOUIS XIII.

Athena Calderone, @eyeswoom designer and tastemaker. Photo: Ben Rosser

Miami Living: Can you share how the collaboration between LOUIS XIII and J.L. Coquet first came about?

Anne-Laure Pressat: LOUIS XIII has graced the world’s most coveted tables for over a century. Expanding this essence into Art de la Table demanded a partner matching our uncompromising artisanship. Our search led us to the House of J.L. Coquet. For two centuries, their extra-white porcelain mastery has illuminated haute gastronomy, revealing the raw material’s inherent beauty—a vision perfectly aligned with ours. This shared dedication and unparalleled craftsmanship made J.L. Coquet the definitive choice to bring the LOUIS XIII Art de la Table to life. What was the biggest challenge in translating the ideas of terroir and time into porcelain?

Creating these collections was a challenge and a commitment we deeply share with the House of J.L Coquet. The whiteness of the porcelain is a hallmark of quality porcelain. Yet, its complexity and ultimate artistry lie in the intricate craftsmanship of the material.

Over three years, 40 artisans mastered 12 entirely new techniques to bring our vision to life. For us, the process was about ensuring that every detail reflected LOUIS XIII legacy and quest for utmost quality. It was about pushing the limits of porcelain-making to fully express the soul of LOUIS XIII.

Miami Living: What led to the use of 3D scanning to capture the chalky soil of Grande Champagne?

Anne-Laure Pressat: The LOUIS XIII Soil is Our Soul collection is a tribute to the terroir of Grande Champagne, the 1st cru of Cognac. This land is renowned for its chalky soil, which imparts our eaux-de-vie with unparalleled aromatic complexity and aging potential. To honor this terroir, we sought a way to bring its essence to the table, inviting our guests to experience this land through touch.

This ambition led us to the innovative 3D scanning technology. This technology allowed us to do just that. We journeyed to the Grollet Estate, the cradle of LOUIS XIII, and captured the chalky soil’s texture from its vineyards. This detail is now imprinted onto each piece of porcelain, forging a link between the collection and its origin.

Miami Living: The copper lining detail is striking—what story does it tell within the collection?

Anne-Laure Pressat: The delicate, hand painted copper lining detail within the LOUIS XIII Light of Time Collection echoes the copper Cognac stills that unveil the eaux-de vie aromatic soul.

Miami Living: How did collaborating with 40 artisans over three years shape the creative process?

Anne-Laure Pressat: Our creative process began with a clear vision: to translate LOUIS XIII’s essence into Art de la Table through designs that profoundly narrate its story. J.L Coquet took on the challenge to create the LOUIS XIII collections, going beyond their current techniques towards the same quest of excellence that is followed in crafting a decanter of LOUIS XIII.

Over three years, this collaboration demanded innovation, developing new techniques and rigorously training their artisans. It ultimately required the collective harmony and individual mastery of 40 artisans to meticulously bring the LOUIS XIII essence to life.

Athena Calderone (@eyeswoon), Chef Daniel Boulud and Anne-Laure Pressat (Global Executive Director of LOUIS XIII). LOUIS XIII Cognac hosted an intimate dinner unveiling its first-ever porcelain collections, Art de la Table, at Chef Daniel Boulud’s newest restaurant, Maison Barnes in NYC. Notable guests included designer and tastemaker Athena Calderone (@eyeswoon), acclaimed pianist Chloe Flower (@misschloeflower), and Chef Daniel Boulud (@danielboulud).

Miami Living: Why was the number 750 chosen for the limited edition, and what meaning does it carry?

Anne-Laure Pressat: The number reflects the rarity and heritage of LOUIS XIII and pays tribute to the capacity of a single tierçon, a century-old barrel that guards LOUIS XIII eaux-de-vie in the aging cellars.

Miami Living: From your perspective, why is porcelain the right medium to extend the LOUIS XIII ritual beyond the glass?

Anne-Laure Pressat: To extend the LOUIS XIII ritual beyond the glass onto the dinner experience, porcelain was the undeniable medium. It shares our essence: a rare material steeped in heritage and defined by unparalleled quality.

Our journey led us to Limoges, the home of masterful porcelain, and to J.L. Coquet. Their two-century dedication to crafting the whitest, most translucent, and delicate porcelain, truly unveils the raw material’s inherent beauty – a profound parallel to LOUIS XIII essence itself.

Miami Living: Miami is famous for its light—how do you see that energy reflecting the luminous qualities of Light of Time?

Anne-Laure Pressat: Miami’s renowned light and vibrant energy resonate deeply with the LOUIS XIII Light of Time collection. Our collection is inspired by the transformative journey of our eaux-de-vie, aged for decades in the profound darkness of our cellars, patiently awaiting their radiant emergence into the light. This powerful contrast, from deep shadow to brilliant revelation, directly mirrors Miami’s own luminous spirit.

Miami Living: If you were to stage a dinner in Miami with this collection, what kind of experience would you imagine for the city’s vibrant dining culture.

Anne-Laure Pressat: We would craft a LOUIS XIII Art de la Table dinner for Miami’s vibrant dining culture: an immersive sensorial journey into our House essence. Guests will explore the dual narratives of Soil is Our Soul and Light of Time collections through a multi-course dinner, where dishes vividly echo their stories, perfectly paired with collection pieces. 

Learn more by visting us.louisxiii-cognac.com or follow @louisxiiicognac on Instagram and @CognacLouisXIII on X.

By ML Staff/Interview by Markin Abras. Photos/LOUIS XIII