Commedia dell'arte figures, c. 1740, 1744, 1735, modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler
Meissen porcelain or Meissen china was the first European hard-paste porcelain. Early experiments were done in 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. After his death that October, Johann Friedrich Böttger continued von Tschirnhaus's work and brought this type of porcelain to the market, financed by Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. The production of porcelain in the royal factory at Meissen, near Dresden, started in 1710 and attracted artists and artisans to establish, arguably, the most famous porcelain manufacturer known throughout the world. Its signature logo, the crossed swords, was introduced in 1720 to protect its production; the mark of the swords is reportedly one of the oldest trademarks in existence.
Dresden porcelain (or "china") was once the usual term for these wares, until in 1975 the Oberlandesgericht (Higher Munich State Court) decided in favour of the Saxon Porcelain Manufactory Dresden, which alone was then allowed to use the name Dresden Porcelain (it ceased producing in 2020).[1]
Part of a tea and chocolate service, c. 1725, given to Vittorio Amadeo II, King of Sardinia (1666–1732) by Augustus the Strong, owner of the Meissen factory
Meissen remained the dominant European porcelain factory, and the leader of stylistic innovation, until somewhat overtaken by the new styles introduced by the French Sèvres factory in the 1760s, but has remained a leading factory to the present day. Among the developments pioneered by Meissen are the porcelain figurines, and the introduction of European decorative styles to replace the imitation of Asian decoration of its earliest wares.
Since 1991, the manufactory has been operating as the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH,[2] whose owner is the Free State of Saxony. The company is one of the world's leading porcelain manufacturers and one of the oldest and most internationally known German luxury brands.[3]
^Oberlandesgericht München, Verdict 10 July 1975, Case number 6 U 5307/74.
^"Porcelain Manufactory MEISSEN".
^Florian Langenscheidt, Bernd Venohr (Hrsg.): Lexikon der deutschen Weltmarktführer. Die Königsklasse deutscher Unternehmen in Wort und Bild. Deutsche Standards Editionen, Köln 2010, ISBN 978-3-86936-221-2.
Meissenporcelain or Meissen china was the first European hard-paste porcelain. Early experiments were done in 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus...
in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissenporcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche. The Große...
of the finest quality porcelain wares are made of this material. The earliest European porcelains were produced at the Meissen factory in the early 18th...
making hard-paste porcelain (as made in East Asia and Meissenporcelain), but found bone ash a useful addition to their soft-paste porcelain mixtures. This...
Early tablewares, being produced in profusion by 1750, depend on Meissenporcelain models and on silverware prototypes, such as salt cellars in the form...
Onion (German: Zwiebelmuster) is a porcelain tableware pattern for dishware. Originally manufactured by Meissenporcelain in the 18th century and the late...
Porcelain manufacturing companies are firms which manufacture porcelain. The table below lists European manufacturers of porcelain established before the...
quantities arrived in Europe as Chinese export porcelain in the early 18th century and it was copied at Meissen and elsewhere. It was also exported to Japan...
continued until 1864. The firm was Europe's second-oldest porcelain factory after Meissenporcelain, and for 25 years the two remained the only European producers...
Saxony, had founded the Meissenporcelain factory which led European porcelain, and her dowry is said to have included 17 Meissen table services. They recruited...
Electoral-Saxon Porcelain Manufactory was established in Meissen in 1709. The manufacture of fine porcelain continues at the Meissenporcelain factory. In...
hard-paste porcelain known from Chinese and Japanese export porcelain. They succeeded in developing soft-paste porcelain, but Meissenporcelain was the first...
much older and better-known Meissenporcelain), was a German company for the production of decorative and luxury porcelain. Founded in 1872, it was located...
indicate that Tschirnhaus invented porcelain. In 1719, for example, Samuel Stölzel of the porcelain factory of Meissen went to Vienna with the still-secret...
of porcelain, majolica, and ceramics that belonged to the Italian industrialist Giuseppe Gianetti. These showcase more than 200 pieces of Meissen porcelain...
silver thimbles were regarded as an ideal gift for ladies. Early Meissenporcelain and elaborate, decorated gold thimbles were also given as keepsakes...
Dresden porcelain may refer to: Meissenporcelain, the first European hard-paste porcelain, and still active Dresden Porcelain, a porcelain factory in...
In the old royal château, a porcelain manufactory was established in 1740, specializing in imitations of Meissenporcelain and naturalistic flowers, which...
century European manufacturers had discovered how to make porcelain. The Meissenporcelain factory in Saxony was followed by other factories in Germany...
became especially popular in the 18th century. Early ceramic wares in Meissenporcelain and other factories naturally imitated Chinese designs, though the...
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