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Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

German

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.

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Creator: Dresden Porcelain
Vintage Dresden Porcelain Hand Painted Reticulated Basket Weave Handled Bowl 6"
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Dayton, OH
An exceptional Dresden basket weave hand painted bob bon dish or bowl. Polychrome with colorful floral sprays and flowers throughout. “The Sächsische Porzellan-Manufaktur Dresden G...
Category

20th Century Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Louis XVI Style Sèvres Style Ram Motif Flower Pot Cache Pot, Carl Thieme Dresden
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis XVI Style Sèvres Style Ram Motif Flower Pot Cache Pot, Carl Thieme Dresden Dresden, circa 1900s The Louis XVI style Sèvres style ram motif flower pot cache pot is a remarkable ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Louis XVI Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Signed Dresden Porcelain Urn Vase in Pink Gilded Handles Courting Scene
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Greer, SC
Stunning large antique Dresden porcelain vase in the shape of an urn, featuring a luscious pink color with gilded accents and a courting scene. Signed / hallmarked " Dresden " with w...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Rococo Revival Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Late 19th Century Dresden Parcel-Gilt and Biscuit Porcelain Jardinière
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
A fine quality late 19th century Dresden parcel-gilt and biscuit porcelain jardinière. The border moulded with cherubs and applied with rams’ heads above a relief of putti with ga...
Category

Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Antique German Helena Wolfson Dresden Three Handle Loving Cup Vase Urn 19thCent
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality hand painted Dresden stoneware three handle loving cup of traditional circular flared outline and generous size. Last half of the nineteenth century.   With three hand painted classical scenes of Ladies in landscape in Eighteenth century dress, separated by three large lavish gilded handles. This wonderful piece is supported by three gilded claw feet.  *In our opinion and the quality of painted decoration these pieces were decorated by Dresden studio of Helena Wolfson...
Category

Late 19th Century German Early Victorian Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Dresden Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Vases
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
Pair of Dresden porcelain and gilt bronze vases. German, late 19th century. Measures: height 57cm, width 39cm, depth 33cm. This fine pai...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Pair of Dresden Helena Wolfson Hand Painted Bottle Vases Floral Scenes
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Dublin, Ireland
A stylish matched pair of hand painted Dresden bottle vases, last quarter of the 19th century. Each of bulbous body form with tall slender necks, superbly hand decorated in colors...
Category

19th Century German Late Victorian Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Pottery

Richard Klemm Dresden Miniature Porcelain Portrait Cabinet Vase of Antoinette
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an excellent high quality porcelain vase. It is depicting a portrait of Antoinette in the center framed with gilt wreath of olives leaves against ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Empire Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Hand-Painted Porcelain Vases in the Neoclassical Style
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
A superbly decorative pair of neoclassical lidded porcelain vases, exquisitely hand-painted in blue and white colours and gilded throughout. Germany, early 20th century We love the...
Category

Early 20th Century German Neoclassical Revival Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Dresden Porcelain, Amphora, Lid Vase, Urn, with Gold Painting
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent Dresden Porcelain, amphora, lid vase, urn with gold painting.
Category

20th Century Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Dresden Porcelain, Amphora, Lid Vase, Urn, with Gold Painting
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Berlin, DE
Magnificent Dresden porcelain, amphora, lid vase, urn. With gold painting.
Category

20th Century Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Very Impressive Pair of 19th Century Dresden Vases
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in London, GB
This pair of Dresden or Helena flower encrusted vases are in Meissen style. The vases have hand painted cartouches after the French court artist...
Category

Late 19th Century German Neoclassical Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Porcelain

Impressive Hand Painted / Decorated German Dresden Porcelain Urn / Centerpiece
By Dresden Porcelain
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Elevate your home decor with this exquisite three-part German Dresden Porcelain Decorative Covered Urn, a masterpiece of artistic craftsmanship and timeless beauty. This stunning urn...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Rococo Revival Antique Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

Materials

Gold

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Early 20th Century German Rococo Dresden Porcelain Vases and Vessels

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Porcelain

Pair of Antique Floral Dresden Porcelain Vases
Pair of Antique Floral Dresden Porcelain Vases
H 27.96 in W 14.18 in D 12.21 in
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By Dresden Porcelain
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These fantastically decorated vases are the work of the Carl Thieme Porcelain Manufactory, one of the most highly-regarded makers of porcelain in the German town of Dresden during th...
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Dresden Porcelain vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.

Dresden porcelain vases and vessels 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 Dresden Porcelain vases and vessels, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original vases and vessels by Dresden Porcelain were created in the Victorian style in germany during the 19th century. Prices for Dresden Porcelain vases and vessels can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $200 and can go as high as $28,031, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,190.

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