Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Sauce Boat
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Sauce Boat with attached under plate.
20th Century German George IV Serving Pieces
Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Sauce Boat
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Sauce Boat with attached under plate.
Porcelain
$796Sale Price / set|20% Off
2 Pc, Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Soup Tureen, Under Platter
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
2 Pc, Meissen Porcelain Cobalt & Gold Rim Decorated Soup Tureen, Under Platter.
Porcelain
Vintage Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue & Gilt Butter Pat with Deutsche Blumen
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed vintage German porcelain butter pat or small dish. By Meissen. With painted Deutsche blumen to the center and cobalt blue with gilt accents to the rim.
Porcelain
Pair of German Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Vases
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Pair of antique German Meissen porcelain vases designed by August Leuteritz, decorated with snake handles, cobalt blue color and gold.
Porcelain
1924-1934, Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue & Floral Lidded Box
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
It is hand painted with a nice floral arrangement on white ground on the top of the lid with a fancy gold trim around the white on that amazing deep cobalt blue ground that is coveri...
Porcelain
Middle 20th Century Meissen Prunkteller Cobalt Gilt 11”inches
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
This antique porcelain piece is a Meissen Prunkteller (ceremonial or show plate), characterized by its relief decoration of oak leaves and acorns.
Porcelain
Two Splendid Meissen Cups, Cobalt With Watteau Painting & Gold Decoration, 19th
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Excellent pieces from the Meissen manufactory from the 19th century: Two cups and saucers with cobalt blue background and large reserves with the finest overglaze painting, as well a...
Porcelain
$558Sale Price|25% Off
Antique 19th Century Meissen Egg Floral Gilt Trinket Box, France, 1875, Cobalt
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Egg-shaped box, Meissen (Germany) dated to 1875 based on its mark, with gilding, cobalt blue accents and tremendous floral design.
Porcelain
Rococo Porcelain Vase Cobalt Blue Flowers Gilt Meissen
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
Indulge in the timeless allure of the “Cobalt Elegance” Meissen Porcelain Floral Vase with Gold Accents.
Porcelain
Meissen. Porcelain dish with scalloped edges, cobalt blue glaze, floral pattern.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen, Germany dish, 1924–34. Porcelain dish with scalloped edges, cobalt blue glaze, hand-painted floral decoration, and rich gilt embellishments.
Porcelain
$1,975Sale Price|37% Off
Meissen Porcelain Snakes Handle Vase, 1st Quality, Cobalt and Gold Painting
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Berlin, DE
Meissen Porcelain snakes handle vase. 1st quality.
Porcelain
$2,208Sale Price|34% Off
Meissen Porcelain Snakes Handle Vase, 1st Quality, Cobalt and Gold Painting
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Berlin, DE
Meissen porcelain snakes handle vase. 1st quality.
Porcelain
Antique Meissen Porcelain Tea Tray with Cobalt Blue Border & Spray Flowers
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique porcelain tea tray or serving platter. By Meissen.
Porcelain
Rococo Cobalt Blue Gilt Flowers Vase Meissen Germany
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
Meissen Amphora Vase This porcelain vase features a cobalt blue background with intricate gold decoration and polychrome flower painting.
Porcelain
Rococo Meissen B Form Serving Dish Bowl Cobalt Gold
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
Rococo Meissen B-Form This is a piece of Meissen porcelain, likely a serving dish or bowl, from their "B-Form" collection, characterized by its ornate, rococo-inspired design with a ...
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt blue Gold Bouquet A big vas, 20th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
Meissen porcelain vase, 20th century Germany. Trumpet form, white porcelain.
Porcelain
Meissen. Lidded vase in deep cobalt blue glaze with gilded ornamentation.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen Lidded porcelain vase, early 20th century.
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt Blue Schlangenvasen, Pair
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vancouver, BC
Neoclassical baluster form Meissen vases with gilt gadrooned rim flanked by paired coiled serpent handles and terminated with acanthus leaves above a band of VItruvian scrolls. Marke...
Museum Quality Meissen Porcelain Cobalt-Blue Krater Pate sur Pate Vase
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and truly unique Museum quality Meissen porcelain cobalt-blue krater pate sur pate/ Limoge enamel vase, third quarter of the 1800s blue crossed swords mark, the Decorat...
Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt and Gold Deep Cabinet Plate/Bowl
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen Porcelain deep cabinet plate/bowl is cobalt blue color with rich gold decor.
Porcelain
Large Oval Meissen Porcelain Gilded Cobalt Blue Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large Meissen Porcelain plate hand painted in cobalt blue color with rich gold decor and handles.
Porcelain
Pair of Porcelain Meissen Cobalt Blue Vases, 1960
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Sofia, BG
Pair of vases, porcelain, cobalt blue walls with fine and broad margins of gold, on the front a reserve with a colorfully painted bouquet on a white background, framed by golden leav...
Porcelain
Sold
H 1 in Dm 8.25 in
8 Meissen Germany 19thc Cobalt Reticulated Porcelain Plates with Courting Scenes
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Savannah, GA
A ring of stunning cobalt blue frames the center of the courting scenes on this lovely eight piece set of painted porcelain plates.
Porcelain
Sold
H 14.5 in W 7.5 in D 6.25 in
Western Germany Meissen School Hand-Painted Cobalt and Gilt Porcelain Urns
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Big Flats, NY
Western German Meissen School porcelain urns feature hand-painted floral reserves on cobalt blue ground and with heavily gilt highlights including ram's head handles, en verso "Atzgo...
Porcelain
Sold
H 18 in W 12 in D 7 in
Pair of Meissen School Cobalt & Gilt Porcelain Cherub & Foliate Form Candelabra
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Big Flats, NY
Pair of Meissen school porcelain four light figural candelabra feature hand painted cobalt and gilt foliate form with cherubs seated at base, 20th century Measures: 18" height x 1...
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt Blue Vase Funneled Shape Flowers, circa 1964
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Gorgeous Tall Cobalt Blue Vase of Funneled Form Type. MANUFACTORY: MEISSEN DATING: made second half of 20th century MATERIAL: WHITE PORCELAIN, GLOSSY FINIS...
Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Vase with Snake Handles
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen porcelain vase in cobalt blue and rich gold.
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.49 in D 13.78 in
Large Meissen Tureen With Putto On Presentoir, Cobalt Flowers Gold, Circa 1850
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Royal blue border, elaborate bouquet and insect painting in the centres and on the panels, lid crowned with a kneeling cornucopia putto with scattered sculptural fruits and leaves as...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
19th Century Meissen Coffee Set for 6 Persons, Cobalt, Bouquets and Gold Decor
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Dimensions: coffee pot + lid: height = 22.5 cm / 8.85 in milk jug: height = 13.5 cm / 5.31 in sugar bowl + lid: height = 12.5 cm / 4.92 in cup: height = 6.0 cm / 2.36 in saucer:...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Meissen Coffee Set For 9 Persons With Cobalt Bouquet Painting & Gold, Early 19th
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Extensive decoration with finely painted bouquets of flowers and scattered flowers in camaieu painting in cobalt blue with gold, gold rims. Dimensions: Coffee pot + lid: H = 19,5...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Meissen Coffee & Tea Set For 8 Persons Cobalt Bouquet Painting & Gold Early 19th
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
Dimensions: Coffee pot + lid: H = 26,0 cm / 10.23 in Water pot + lid: H = 19,0 cm / 7.48 in Tea pot + lid: H = 13,0 cm / 5.11 in Milk jug: H = 13,...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Meissen B-Shape Coffee Set For 6 Persons With Cobalt & Lavish Gold Decor, 20th
By Meissen Porcelain, Ernst August Leuteritz
Located in Vienna, AT
Design: Ernst August Leuteritz 1844-1855 Dimensions: 1 coffee pot + lid: H = 27,0 cm / 10.62 in 1 milk jug: H = 12,5 cm / 4.92 in 1 sugar bowl + lid: ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 11.82 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Meissen B-Shape Coffee Set For 6 Persons With Cobalt & Lavish Gold Decor, 20th
By Meissen Porcelain, Ernst August Leuteritz
Located in Vienna, AT
Design: Ernst August Leuteritz 1844-1855 Dimensions: 1 coffee pot + lid: H = 26,0 cm / 10.23 in 1 milk jug: H = 12,0 cm / 4.72 in 1 sugar bowl + lid:...
Porcelain
Porcelain Stick, Meissen, Painted with Cupids, Rich Cobalt Colors
Located in København, Copenhagen
Porcelain stick around 1890s, Meissen, painted with cupids, rich cobalt colors, gilded metal collars, rosewood handle.
Pair of 19th C Cobalt Blue Meissen Serpent Porcelain Vases
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of 19th C Cobalt Blue Meissen Serpent Vases in the Neo-Classical style. Boldly colored cobalt urns with white intertwined double scrolled serpent handles. Urns sits atop round g...
Porcelain
Sold
H 3.375 in W 6.5 in D 6.5 in
Rare Vintage Meissen Mocha B-Form Porcelain Teacup & Saucer Cobalt Blue & Gold
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Dayton, OH
MEISSEN mocha/espresso cup with saucer, ¨B-Form¨, cobalt blue and white background with rich gold decoration and sword mark Circa 1825-1924 "Meissen porcelain or Meissen china was ...
Porcelain
Cobalt Vase, Meissen, Germany, Mid-20th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Chorzów, PL
A cobalt vase produced by the excellent German factory Meissen.
Porcelain
Meissen cobalt gold 2 rare vintage tea cups with saucers
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Uppsala , SE
Meissen B form Cobalt Gold 2 charming tea cups with sauces Cup d 10 cm h 8 cm Sauce d 16 cm h 3 cm In very good vintage condition without any damage
Porcelain
Sold
H 24.25 in W 13 in D 8.5 in
19th Century, Meissen Neoclassical Cobalt Blue & Gold Snake Handle Urn Lamp
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen (German, founded 1710), circa mid 19th century. This stunning antique Meissen urn has been converted to a table lamp. It features a Neoclassical baluster form with gilt and ...
Porcelain
Sold
H 5.91 in W 2.96 in D 2.37 in
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt-Blue Limoges Enameled Porcelain Ground Vase
By Ernst August Leuteritz, Meissen Porcelain
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Museum quality Meissen Porcelain cobalt-blue Limoges enamel porcelain vase.
Enamel
Meissen Porcelain Cobalt and Gold Deep Cabinet Plate/Bowl
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen Porcelain deep cabinet plate/bowl is cobalt blue color with rich gold decor.
Porcelain
A Rare Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Platinum & Gold Floral Painted Vase
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
A Highly Important and Rare Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Vase with Platinum and Gold Hand-Painted Decoration.
Porcelain
Meissen Porcelain Hand Painted and Gilded Cobalt Blue Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Meissen Porcelain plate with hand painted floral motives and cobalt blue color with rich gold decor.
Porcelain
Large Meissen Porcelain Hand Painted and Gilded Cobalt Blue Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vilnius, LT
Large Meissen Porcelain plate with hand painted floral motives and cobalt blue color with gold decor.
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt Blue Vase Funneled Shape Flowers height 16.8 inches c.1954
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vienna, AT
GORGEOUS TALL COBALT BLUE VASE OF FUNNELED FORM TYPE MANUFACTORY: MEISSEN DATING: made middle of 20th century MATERIAL: WHITE PORCELAIN, GLOSSY FINISH, FINEST ...
Mid-19th Century Cobalt and Gilt Neoclassical Urn
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A Meissen Porcelain vase, this lovely piece features a deep blue body with scrolled snake handles with acanthus termini. The base is gadrooned and fluted with Fine classical detailin...
Porcelain
Pair of 19th Century Meissen Snake Handled Cobalt Blue "Schlangenvasen" Vases
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of 19th century neoclassical baluster form vases, the gilt gadrooned rim flanked by paired coiled serpent handles terminated with acanthus leaves above a band of VItruvian scr...
Porcelain
Sold
H 2.5 in W 6.75 in D 2.5 in
Rare Meissen Cobalt Blue Hand Painted "Shoe" Slipper of Castle Moritzburg C 1890
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Museum quality piece of rare art from the re known firm of Meissen, Germany. This popular cabinet item was made in the last half of the 19th century with meticulous hand painted deta...
Gold, Enamel
Set of 11 Meissen Reticulated Plates
Located in Roslyn, NY
Exquisite Set of 11 Meissen Porcelain Reticulated Plates. Cobalt Blue, White & Gilt.
Porcelain
Sold
H 5.75 in W 3 in D 2 in
Meissen Cobalt Ground Pâte-sur-pâte Figural Vase, Attributed to Leuteritz
By Meissen Porcelain, Ernst August Leuteritz
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Meissen Cobalt Ground Pâte-sur-pâte Figural Vase, attributed to Leuteritz Germany, second quarter 19th century We are pleased to offer an extraordinary opportunity to acquire on...
Porcelain
Large Meissen Porcelain Gilt Cobalt Vase Urn Centerpiece Decorative LA
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Large 19th century German hand painted gilt-trimmed Meissen porcelain vase urn. Snake handled cobalt blue vases with gilt trim and scroll handles.
Porcelain, Paint
19th Century, Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Washington Crossing, PA
Dark cobalt with gold embossed roses in centre. Blue cross mark on base.
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt and Gold Cabinet Plate
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Washington Crossing, PA
Meissen cobalt and gold cabinet plate.
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt and Gold Cabinet Bowl
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Washington Crossing, PA
Meissen cobalt and gold cabinet bowl.
Porcelain
Antique Pair Meissen Cobalt Urns
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique Pair Meissen Cobalt Urns with painted cartouche of cupids
Porcelain
Sold
H 2.13 in Dm 11 in
Meissen Cobalt and Gold Fluted Charger with a Border of Gold Leaves from 1890s
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is an exquisite striking Meissen cobalt and gold fluted charger. All the gilded decoration is in fabulous condition. This Meissen charger dates back to the 1890s. It is really o...
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Meissen Porcelain Oval Dish Cobalt and Gilt
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Washington Crossing, PA
Early 20th century Meissen porcelain oval dish cobalt and gilt Marked on base.
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt and Gold Encrusted Floral Centrebowl
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen cobalt and gold encrusted floral centre bowl, of the best quality, finely painted marked blue crossswords, painters and gilders numbers. Presently this item is at our West Pa...
Porcelain
Meissen Dresden Pattern Covered Cobalt Blue and Gilt Demitasse Cup and Saucer
Located in Washington Crossing, PA
High quality Meissen Dresden pattern covered cobalt blue and gilt demitasse cup & saucer painted cartouche, marked underglaze with blue crossed swords and incised. Covered demitasse ...
Porcelain
Meissen Cobalt Charger with Raised Gilded Flowers, Leaves & Gilt Fluted Border
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Boston, MA
This is a stunning cobalt Meissen Charger. It is decorated with raised gilded flowers and leaves. Its fluted border also has heavy gold. It has a central hand-painted bouquet of flow...
Porcelain
$1,920Sale Price / set|32% Off
H 0.79 in W 15.16 in D 12.01 in
Limoges Bernardaud 62 Pieces Fine Faience Dinner Service
By Bernardaud
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
Exquisite fine cream faience tableware set adorned with scattered roses and gold trim. The set consists of 62 pieces and would be ideal for casual dining, or would make an eyecatchin...
Faience, Paint
French Green Majolica Tureen with Stand Sarreguemines, circa 1870
By Sarreguemines
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century green Majolica tureen with stand signed Sarreguemines Majolica, circa 1870 With grapes leaves. Height / 7.5", diameter / 8 inches.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Fabergé Silver Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary 128-piece service by Fabergé is a rare treasure in more ways than one. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and in pristine c...
Silver
$60,000
H 12 in W 14 in D 7 in
Magnificent French Antique Porcelain 116-Piece Dinner Set, 19th Century
Located in Montreal, Quebec
116 Pieces A magnificent French Antique porcelain 116-piece dinner set, 19th century, with burgundy and gold accents. This set is exceptionnal both in its beauty, its state of con...
Porcelain
$94,431Sale Price|35% Off
H 33.47 in Dm 17.72 in
Rare Antique 102 piece Meissen „Flower Bouqet” Dinner Service, Germany 1840
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Rome, IT
Extensive 102 Piece Rare Meissen Dinner Service "Flower Bouqett", 1815 – 1860 , colorful, richly decorated gold rim, consisting of: 45 dinner plates (Ø 24 cm,) 24 deep plates (Ø 23 ...
Porcelain
$3,200
H 10.5 in W 13.75 in D 13.75 in
A French late 19th century Louis XV st. Lunéville Faience Porcelain serving set
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and most decorative French late 19th century Louis XV st. Lunéville Faience Porcelain serving set. This most attractive fifty-four piece dining is painted on over glaze co...
Porcelain
$2,340 / set
H 11 in Dm 6 in
Pair of 19th Century Meissen Gold & White Neoclassical Serpent Handled Vases
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 19th Century Meissen gold & white neoclassical serpent handled vases. Germany, circa 1880s Design attributed to E.A. Leuteritz Hard to find a pair of understated Meissen ne...
Porcelain
Rosenthal porcelain dinner service "Maria", Germany 1966
By Rosenthal
Located in Delft, NL
Rosenthal porcelain dinner service "Maria", Germany 1966 A white porcelain dinner service set by Rosenthal, Germany Dated with the Rosenthal mark of 1966 The romantic set called " M...
Porcelain
Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner Service
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Antique Meissen 68-piece floral dinner service German, c. 1900 Largest serving dish: Height 6cm, width 52.5cm, depth 37.5cm Square salad bowl: Height 9.5cm, width 22cm, depth 22cm...
Porcelain
$7,980Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 4 in W 12 in D 12 in
133 Piece House of Puiforcat Kiang She Dinner Service for 12 by Limoges, France
By Puiforcat
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., France, a magnificent Chinese-inspired service from the 18th century "Kiang She" (on white background) from Puiforcat. 133 pieces of gilt and polychrome enameled porcelain, ...
Porcelain, Paint
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Garrard & Co. Ltd., Asprey International Limited
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked i...
Gold
$9,111Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.58 in W 14.97 in D 18.9 in
Unusual Set of 18th Century Blue and White Plates, Platers and Lidded Plates
Located in Epfach, DE
Decorative Set of Blue and White Porcelain Plates, China, 18th Century This striking and unusual set of 19 blue and white porcelain pieces includes plates, platters, and lidded pla...
Porcelain
$34,069
H 70.87 in W 73.23 in D 88.19 in
Bed Tester Spanish Baroque Carved Dark Green & Gilded Leather Superking 6ft180cm
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Rare, Spanish Demi-Tester, Baroque Bed With Carved, Green Painted & Gilded Posts 181cm, 6ft High, Floral Painted Leather Headboard, sold with custom made box spring mattress base, ac...
Giltwood, Paint
Pair of Meissen Porcelain Vases with Snake Handles
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Pembroke, MA
A highly-decorative pair of yellow porcelain vases, hand-painted with detailed central romantic scene, and having snake-form handles (Meissen, 19th century).
Porcelain
$36,000
H 10 in Dm 13.75 in
Dinner Service, 86 Piece, Flow Blue and White, Classic Onion Meissen Pattern
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Montreal, Quebec
86 piece dinner service with the marking: "Original ZWIEBELMUSTER, Czechoslovakia", in the Classic Blue Onion, Meissen Pattern, comprising: 24 dinner plates, 9.5" diameter 12...
Porcelain
19th Century British Porcelain Dinnerware Service
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid 19th Century British porcelain dinnerware service with hand painted gilt foliate borders with bouquets of wild flowers against a white background design details. Each piece is in...
Gold
Meissen Porcelain (Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen) is one of the preeminent porcelain factories in Europe and was the first to produce true porcelain outside of Asia. It was established in 1710 under the auspices of King Augustus II “the Strong” of Saxony-Poland (1670–1733), a keen collector of Asian ceramics, particularly Ming porcelain.
In pursuing his passion, which he termed his “maladie de porcelaine,” Augustus spent vast sums, amassing some 20,000 pieces of Japanese and Chinese ceramics. These, along with examples of early Meissen, comprise the Porzellansammlung, or porcelain collection, of the Zwinger Palace, in Dresden.
The king was determined, however, to free the European market from its dependence on Asian imports and to give European artisans the freedom to create their own porcelain designs. To this end, he charged the scientist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and aspiring alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger with the task of using local materials to produce true, hard-paste porcelain (as opposed to the soft-paste variety European ceramists in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain had been producing since the late Renaissance). In 1709, the pair succeeded in doing just that, employing kaolin, or “china clay.” A year later, the Meissen factory was born.
In its first decades, Meissen mostly looked to Asian models, producing wares based on Japanese Kakiemon ceramics and pieces with Chinese-inflected decorations called chinoiserie. During the 1720s its painters drew inspiration from the works of Watteau, and the scenes of courtly life, fruits and flowers that adorned fashionable textiles and wallpaper. It was in this period that Meissen introduced its famous cobalt-blue crossed swords logo — derived from the arms of the Elector of Saxony as Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire — to distinguish its products from those of competing factories that were beginning to spring up around Europe.
By the 1730s, Meissen’s modelers and decorators had mastered the style of Asian ceramics, and Augustus encouraged them to develop a new, original aesthetic. The factory’s director, Count Heinrich von Brühl, used Johann Wilhelm Weinmann’s botanical drawings as the basis for a new line of wares with European-style surface decoration. The Blue Onion pattern (Zwiebelmuster), first produced in 1739, melded Asian and European influences, closely following patterns used in Chinese underglaze-blue porcelain, but replacing exotic flora and fruits with Western varieties (likely peaches and pomegranates, not onions) along with peonies and asters.
During the same period, head modeler Joachim Kändler (1706–75) began crafting delicate porcelain figures derived from the Italian commedia dell’arte. Often used as centerpieces on banquet tables and decorated to reflect the latest fashions in courtly dress for men and women, these figurines were popular in their day, and are still considered among Meissen’s most iconic creations. Kändler also created the Swan Service, which, with its complex low-relief surface design and minimal decoration is considered a masterpiece of Baroque ceramics.
The rise of Neoclassicism in the latter half of the 18th century forced Meissen to change artistic direction and begin producing monumental vases, clocks, chandeliers and candelabra. In the 20th century, Meissen added to its 18th-century repertoire decidedly modern designs, including ones in the Art Nouveau style. The 1920s saw the introduction of numerous animal figures, such as the popular sea otter (Fischotter), which graced an East German postage stamp in the 1960s. Starting in 1933, artistic freedom was limited at the factory under the Nazi regime, and after World War II, when the region became part of East Germany, it struggled to reconcile its elite past with the values of the Communist government. In 1969, however, new artistic director Karl Petermann reintroduced the early designs and fostered a new degree of artistic license. Meissen became one of the few companies to prosper in East Germany.
Owned by the State of Saxony since reunification, in 1990, Meissen continues to produce its classic designs together with new ones developed collaboratively with artists from all over the world. In addition, through its artCAMPUS program, the factory has invited distinguished ceramic artists, such as Chris Antemann and Arlene Shechet, to work in its studios in collaboration with its skilled modelers and painters. The resulting works of contemporary sculpture are inspired by Meissen’s rich and complex legacy.
Find a collection of authentic Meissen Porcelain on 1stDibs.