103-Piece Meissen Porcelain Dinner Service for 12
View Similar Items
103-Piece Meissen Porcelain Dinner Service for 12
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 1 in (2.54 cm)Diameter: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 103
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU986223739042
Meissen Porcelain
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.
- Heavily Gilded Heinrich & Co Porcelain Dinner Plates Retailed by Stouffer StudioBy Heinrich & Co. 1Located in Los Angeles, CASet of 12 Heavily Gilded Heinrich & Co Porcelain Dinner Plates Retailed by Stouffer StudioCategory
Early 20th Century German Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 12 French Sevres Pink Ground Porcelain Painted PlatesBy Manufacture Nationale de SèvresLocated in Los Angeles, CAA very fine set of 12 French Sevres pink ground porcelain painted and jeweled plates. Each with a gold and pink border with a central painting depict...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Bust of a ChildBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Los Angeles, CALarge Meissen Porcelain modeled as a bust of a young child wearing a floral decorated cap, wearing open shirt with floral embellished sash. Late 19th century Crossed swords in ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Busts
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Clock Putti Reading a BookBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Los Angeles, CA19th century German Meissen Porcelain figural mantle clock. Seated figure of a nude Putti reading a book with his left arm resting on the clock tower, the tower is topped with a robe, instruments and artworks representing industry & the arts, at the top is a wreath and architects instruments...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Mantel Clocks
MaterialsPorcelain
- 19th Century Meissen Porcelain PlaqueBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis exceptional and rare Meissen porcelain painted plaque depicts a young boy wearing white outfit with blue cape and a yellow oxide braided ...Category
Antique 19th Century German Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Plaque Depicting Mary MagdaleneBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Los Angeles, CAA large 19th century German Meissen rectangular porcelain plaque depicting Mary Magdalene reclining reading from a book. After Antonio Allegri (Ita...Category
Antique 1870s German Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain
- 49-Piece Meissen Porcelain Dinner Service in Rare Puce/Purple ColorBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Milford, NHA fine 49-piece Meissen porcelain dinner service in a rare purple/puce color, including 10 10-inch dinner plates, 12 9-inch luncheon p...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain
- German Porcelain Partial Dinner Service, Meissen, 19th CenturyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYComprising 18 soups, 18 dinner plates, one large fish platter, and one large meat platter, one covered vegetable tureen, two serving bowls.Category
Antique 19th Century German Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Dinnerware Service for 12 PeopleBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Tarry Town, NYBeautiful German Meissen dinnerware service for twelve people with serving pieces. The dinnerware service is in great condition. Just exquisite & ve...Category
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Dinner Plates
MaterialsGold
$98,000 / set - Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner ServiceBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBAntique Meissen 68-piece floral dinner service German, c. 1900 Largest serving dish: Height 6cm, width 52.5cm, depth 37.5cm Square salad bowl:...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Rococo Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
$44,721 / set - 1851 Imperial Vienna Porcelain 27 piece Service for 18, very rareBy Royal Vienna PorcelainLocated in San Francisco, CAThis extremely rare partial set of dinner service was produced at the Royal Vienna Factory in 1851 under the direction of Baron Leithner, ten years before the factory closed. During Leithner's direction, the factory and it's artists were still known for their splendid and expensive gilding which is displayed on each of the pieces in this set. I purchased this set in the later 1980s from Butterfield and Butterfield, and was told that it was consigned by the estate of a Austrian woman who brought the dishes over from Vienna. Purported the set was part of a very large set of dishes belonging to the household of the Empress Elizabeth...Category
Antique 1850s Austrian Victorian Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Wonderful Service for 12 Pierced Hand Painted Porcelain Dresden Dessert PlatesBy Dresden PorcelainLocated in Roslyn, NYA wonderful service for 12 pierced hand painted porcelain Dresden dessert plates.Category
Early 20th Century German Belle Époque Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain