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Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

German

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.

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Creator: Meissen Porcelain
Four Meissen Porcelain Plaques Depicting the Four Seasons
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
This delicately detailed set of four allegorical porcelain plaques portrays family scenes within the theme of the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Spring can be ide...
Category

Early 19th Century German Folk Art Antique Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Rare Pair of 19th Century Meissen Nodding Pagodas
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A rare and fine quality pair of 19th century Meissen porcelain nodding Pagodas, each with wonderful bold coloured hand painted decoration, wit...
Category

19th Century German Antique Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Meissen Hoopoe Birds, 19th Century
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A pair of Meissen Hoopoe birds naturalistically modelled perched on leafy tree stumps after the models by J J Kandler with blue crossed sword marks, 19th century. Batch 71 61579 ...
Category

1890s German Antique Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

Materials

Porcelain

Pair 19th Century Meissen Nodding Pagodas
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of late 19th century Meissen porcelain Nodding Pagodas, each with wonderful bold coloring moving heads, tongues and hands....
Category

19th Century German Chinoiserie Antique Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century German Meissen painted porcelain plaque
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in London, GB
19th Century German Meissen painted porcelain plaque German, 19th Century Height 11cm, width 13.5cm, depth 1cm This charming painted porcelain plaque d...
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19th Century German Neoclassical Antique Meissen Porcelain Folk Art

Materials

Metal

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Meissen Porcelain folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Meissen porcelain folk art are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of porcelain and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Meissen Porcelain folk art, although beige editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original folk art by Meissen Porcelain were created in the neoclassical style in germany during the 19th century. Prices for Meissen Porcelain folk art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $5,587 and can go as high as $42,178, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $9,552.
Questions About Meissen Porcelain Folk Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To spot a fake Meissen, first, check the maker’s mark, generally found on the bottom of the porcelain. Meissen used a simple mark, so if you spot one that appears too embellished, it may be a fake. Shop a collection of properly vetted Meissen porcelain from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

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