Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Nymphenburg — one of Europe’s most venerable porcelain factories — was founded near Munich in 1747 by Maximilian III Joseph, the elector of Bavaria. It didn’t begin producing under the name we know today, however, until 1761, when it was moved to Nymphenburg Palace.
Porcelain was invented in East Asia around 2,000 years ago, and its formula, which requires a special clay called kaolin, became a closely guarded secret. It wasn’t until the early 1700s that chemists at Meissen, Germany, in the employ of Augustus II the Strong, the elector of Saxony, discovered a process for making true, as opposed to soft-paste, porcelain. Soon factories across Europe were producing fine porcelain services and sculpture for an elite clientele.
Nymphenburg was one of these factories, manufacturing elaborate services for dinner, dessert, coffee and tea, and sculptures for the Bavarian nobility. Round objects, such as Nymphenburg plates and vases, were turned on potter’s wheels, while more complex ones, like figures, were slip cast in molds. This technique ensured that the pieces’ dimensions were precise and consistent. Once shaped, they were fired and, after that, hand-decorated by experienced china painters, who finished each to exacting standards.
Among Nymphenburg’s most famous objects are its lively and charming Rococo-style figurines, most often depicting Commedia dell'Arte characters or exotic Chinese figures. Today, the company makes versions of its historic figurines with updated forms and decorations by such designers as Christian Lacroix and Vivienne Westwood.
It also still makes one of its earliest, and eternally popular, china patterns: the floral Cumberland, created in 1765 by Franz Anton Bustelli as the electoral court service. Cumberland is one of more than 20,000 patterns housed today in Nymphenburg’s archive, enabling owners of incomplete sets to find replacements. In addition, the company has engaged contemporary designers such as Ted Muehling and Hella Jongerius to create witty new designs that celebrate the firm’s history while giving it a fresh spin.
Find authentic Nymphenburg Porcelain decorative objects, tableware and other items on 1stDibs.
1940s German Romantic Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
20th Century German Louis XVI Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Rococo Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1920s German Rococo Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1950s German Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
20th Century German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Stoneware
Early 20th Century German Rococo Revival Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Baroque Revival Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1920s German Rococo Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century German Rococo Revival Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-18th Century German Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain, Wood
2010s German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Organic Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 2000s German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 2000s German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-19th Century Georgian Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 1900s Asian Chinoiserie Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Gold
Mid-20th Century Danish Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1980s German Modern Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
20th Century Austrian Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
20th Century Spanish Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
19th Century German Rococo Revival Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century French Napoleon III Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1990s French Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary Finnish Scandinavian Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1880s German Belle Époque Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Rococo Revival Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
20th Century German Art Nouveau Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1930s German Rococo Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 2000s German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 2000s German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 2000s German Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1890s German Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1890s German Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
1910s German Beaux Arts Vintage Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Nymphenburg Porcelain Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Nymphenburg Porcelain serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Nymphenburg Porcelain
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024To date Nymphenburg porcelain, look for a maker's mark in an inconspicuous area. Since its commission in 1754, the porcelain factory has used a wide range of marks to identify its pieces. By comparing the mark on your porcelain ware to images shared on trusted online resources, you can approximate its age. For example, a coat of arms marking above the brand's wordmark and the number 1754 indicate a piece produced in 2008 or after. If you have difficulty determining the age of a particular piece, a knowledgeable appraiser or antique dealer can assist you. Find a diverse assortment of Nymphenburg porcelain ware on 1stDibs.