Dresden porcelain, as a term, is the subject of some confusion. In some contexts, it refers to the hard-paste ceramic wares produced by the workshops that sprang up in and around the Saxon capital in the 19th century. In others, it denotes only the output of one of these, Sächsische Porzellanmanufaktur Dresden, known in English as simply Dresden Porcelain, which was established in 1872 in the city of Freital, Saxony.
Complicating matters further, early publications about porcelain often used “Dresden” and “Meissen” interchangeably. It is true that the cities of Dresden and Meissen are connected through their long, shared history of decorative arts production and, in fact, most Meissen porcelain was sold in Dresden, the artistic and cultural center of Saxony.
However, Meissen is the site of the factory that produced the first European porcelain, at the turn of the 18th century, while Dresden did not come into prominence until the mid-19th century, during the high point of the Rococo revival. (Porcelain originated in China, which is why many collectors still seek out what they call "Dresden china.")
And while Meissen is known for manufacturing porcelain, from clay models through finished product, Dresden is celebrated for its decorating studios, of which there were several dozen in and around the city during the 19th century. Their skilled painters often used “blanks” from Meissen as their canvases. So a piece of Dresden porcelain may have been formed and fired at Meissen, painted in Dresden, and ultimately sold in one of that city’s shops.
The figurines, plates and vases produced during the 19th century via this complex process remain appealing to this day, their bright hues and pastoral imagery typical of the Rococo revival, which brought scrollwork, shells, foliage, flowers and fruit back into vogue after decades of restrained neoclassicism and austere Gothic Revival design. Dresden figurines, which like their Meissen counterparts were inspired by the characters of the Commedia dell'Arte, have a witty, cheerful quality that has been likened to that of scenes painted by Watteau and Fragonard.
Before its near-total destruction during World War II, Dresden was home to more than 200 painting studios.
The Dresden style, however, is associated with wares bearing the blue crown mark (Meissen’s mark is a pair of cobalt blue crossed swords), which was first registered in 1883 by Richard Klemm, Donath & Co, Oswald Lorenz, and Adolph Hamann. Prominent painters from this period include Helena Wolfsohn, Franziska Hirsch, Ambrosius Lamm — whose skill in the application of metallic or lustre paints is on lavish display in this dinner service from the 1920s — and Carl Thieme, a master in floral painting, as demonstrated by his decoration on this circa 1901 ram’s head urn.
Dresden painters also used a decorative technique known as “Dresden lace.” This involved dipping real lace into liquid porcelain and applying it to a figure, which was then fired in a kiln. The fabric would burn away, leaving a fragile, crinoline-like shell — the type of delicate and whimsical detail that characterizes Dresden porcelain, one of Europe’s great ceramic traditions.
Find authentic antique Dresden porcelain on 1stDibs.
German Dresden Porcelain Serpentine Vibrant Foliage Wall Mirror, Signed, C 1870
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Charleston, SC
German Dresden porcelain serpentine vibrant foliage wall mirror, signed on reverso, late 19th century mirror retains the original silvered glass and wood ...
Porcelain, Glass, Wood, Paint
Pair of Meissen Style Porcelain and Ebonised Wood Mirrored Wall Brackets
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Pair of Meissen style porcelain and ebonised wood mirrored wall brackets German, late 19th Century Height 88cm, width 36/40cm, depth 19cm This superb pair of wall brackets are a masterclass in the Meissen design style. The mirror of each bracket is mounted on an ebonised wood backing, which is surrounded by a porcelain C-scroll surround encrusted with floral decoration. Featuring delicate scrolling motifs, the edge decoration includes both painted floral patterns and moulded floral assemblages, all in a vibrant colour scheme which stands out against the pure white porcelain base. Two expertly crafted birds perch at the corners of each bracket, carefully painted to mimic their real-life counterparts. The very top and very base of each bracket culminates in a playful putto, who represents one of the four seasons. Below the mirrored section of each bracket is a semi-circular wooden top, which sits on top of a basket-shaped porcelain support. Surrounding this support is another porcelain edge, which is encrusted with a floral garland of bright green leaves and delicate blossoms. There is a Dresden mark...
Porcelain, Mirror, Wood
Lighted Art Deco Style Vanity Mirror or Wall Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
A delightful vanity or wall mirror featuring multicolored buttons and a faux leather frame. The mirror has a lighted milk glass frame that is wired. The faux leather shows beautiful ...
Faux Leather, Milk Glass
1 of 7 Ebonised Black Round Wall Mirrors, Lovely Display Pieces
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale 1 of 7 round wall mirrors with deep ebonised frames This sale is for 1 mirror with the option to buy up to 8 in total They are good looking and d...
Mirror
1900s Chippendale Mahogany Wall Mirror
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 1900s Chippendale Mahogany wall mirror. Good condition with few signs of aging and wear appropriate with age. Measures 22"W x 45.5"H.
Mirror, Hardwood, Mahogany
Japanese Antique Mirror, Antique Wall Mirror
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
A large mirror with curved, chamfered edges resembling kamaboko. This is a beautiful single piece of wood mirror that has aged to develop a rich expression and a modern feel. The mi...
Wood
$2,100 / set
H 24 in W 28 in D 1 in
Pair of Italian Roccoco Style Gilt and Carved Wood Mirrors, Late 19th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of Rococo style carved wood and gilt wall mirrors. Carved with connecting C scrolls and acanthus leaves. Italian, late 19th century.
Mirror, Wood
$2,378
H 40.16 in W 27.56 in D 3.94 in
1940s Venetian Rococò Style Wall Mirror in pressed Wood Black and Gold Laquered
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Very elegant midcentury Venetian Rococò style wall mirror in pressed carved wood black and gold laquered Measures cm: H 102, W 70, D 10.
Wood
$5,498 / set
H 23 in W 15.9 in D 0.6 in
Unique Pair of Italian Wall Mirrors Kingwood Marquetry Inlay Frames, circa 1870
Located in Lisse, NL
Outstanding shape, good size and great quality set of two hand crafted wall mirrors. Finding one stylish and very good condition antique is great, but finding a stunning pair is alw...
Walnut, Beech, Satinwood, Wood, Mirror
Antique Giltwood Mirror Louis-Philippe Style, circa 1870
Located in Paris, FR
Antique giltwood wall mirror Louis Philippe French style, circa 1870. Re-gilding to the leaf patinated (Antique frame measures: Width 8.5...
Mirror, Giltwood
Pair of Carved Wood and Gilded Italian Wall Mirrors, Circa 1950
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of carved and gilded Italian round mirrors with bow and swag design.
Giltwood
Meissen Porcelain Mirror
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in New Orleans, LA
Lavish Meissen porcelain serves as the extraordinary frame for this mirror. Exquisitely hand-painted in polychrome with gilt accents, the bountiful fr...
Porcelain, Mirror
$7,800 / set
H 54 in W 36 in D 4 in
Pair of Rococo Style Frame Wall or Console Mirrors, Carved Gilded Wood Surrounds
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Rococo Style frame wall or console mirrors. This fine pair of Italian carved gilded wood surrounds these fine clear center mirror panels. The ove...
Giltwood, Mirror
$172,954
H 74.81 in W 40.16 in D 10.24 in
Pair of George II Style English Giltwood ‘Rococo’ Wall Mirrors
By Thomas Johnson, London 1
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Magnificent Pair of George II Style English Carved Giltwood ‘Rococo’ Wall Mirrors After A Design By Thomas Johnson. Of large proportions, each mirror having a cartouche-shaped plate within a profusely carved and pierced branch-entwined frame with stylised acanthus foliate rocaille and ‘C’-scroll decoration, architectural motifs and running dogs, surmounted by an asymmetrical pagoda form cresting with rockwork spires and a seated rustic couple holding a basket, flanked by confronted Ho-Ho birds, with a conforming asymmetrical apron of acanthus and waterwork icicles centred by a perching bird. This magnificent and ornate pair of English wall mirrors or ‘pier glasses’ are refined and reduced from a design by Thomas Johnson (1723–1799) first published in 1756 and included in his ‘Collections of Designs’ (1758), plate 4, and republished in his ‘One Hundred and Fifty New Designs" (1761) as plate 22. Pier Glasses were designed to be placed on the wall or 'pier' between windows; as well as forming part of a decorative scheme they provided an important functional use, creating a reversal of dynamic with the windows at night, reflecting and maximising the light given off by candles or oil lamps. Johnson’s asymmetrical design creates a sense of fluidity and lightness to the mirrors, employing ‘contraste’ in the placing or absence of elements, to create a stylised form, which through the dynamic tension of its constituent parts instils the mirrors with a sense of playfulness and vitality. In London throughout the 1740s and 1750s there developed a great enthusiasm for the whimsical Rococo style, and it rapidly became the height of fashion, popularised, and disseminated throughout the country and further afield by cabinetmakers’ 'Books of Prices', and 'Directories'. The second half of the 19th century saw a revival of the Rococo style in England and many designers and furniture makers turned once again to Chippendale’s ‘Director’ and designs by Matthias Lock and Thomas Johnson for inspiration, with fine examples based on modified designs or specific plates. Thomas Johnson’s designs, executed in a vigourous picturesque manner, are often inspired by the work of earlier French designers, transposing motifs taken from engraved ornament by Jean Bérain, Daniel Marot, William de la Cour, J. B. Toro and Francis Barlow...
Gesso, Giltwood
Sold
H 27 in W 16.5 in D 4.5 in
Antique German Dresden Porcelain Figural Cherub Double Candle Wall Mirror 19th C
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique large German Dresden figural wall mirror offers hand painted porcelain frame with cherubs, flowers and flanking candle sockets, 19th century ...
Porcelain, Mirror
Sold
H 12.75 in W 10.25 in D 4.75 in
Antique German Dresden Porcelain Figural Cherub Wall Mirror, 19th Century
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique German Dresden figural wall mirror features porcelain construction with playful Classical cherubs at crest and flowers throughout, 19th centu...
Porcelain, Mirror
Large Dresden Porcelain Mirror in German Rococo Style
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
This antique mirror is decorated in the German Rococo style with beautiful painted flowers and scrolling foliage, and is mounted with porcelain figures of children. The mirror was ma...
Porcelain