Meissen Porcelain Germany JJ Kaendler 19Century
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.09 in (18 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 5.12 in (13 cm)
- Style:Rococo (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1850
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Buenos Aires, AR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5666231118592
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Anfora Meissen Porcelain MaterialBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaAnfora Meissen porcelain material the handles are with snake motif the body is rotatable and has painted floral motifs Origin Germany circa 1900.Category
Antique Early 1900s German Neoclassical Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Royal Copenhagen PorcelainBy Royal CopenhagenLocated in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaRoyal copenhagen porcelain porcelain with seal motif Origin Denmark circa 1940 20th century perfect condition.Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Modern Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Dancing Porcelain 'Royal Dux'By Royal Dux BohemiaLocated in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDancing porcelain (Royal Dux) hand painted perfect condition Czechoslovakian.Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of Fine Porcelains 'Couple Dignitaries'Located in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaPair of fine porcelains (couple dignitaries) circa 18th century origin Europe possible restoration in your hand (old) one of them has the letters L.G...Category
Antique Early 1900s European Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art deco porcelain Etling ParisBy Genevieve GrangerLocated in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaArt deco porcelain Etling Paris Figure ( Spanish lady ) art deco Origin France Circa 1920 Rare Etling Paris Edition Signed G.Granger Perfect condition (sealed at its base) The artist is Granevieve Granger porcelain test His company La Societe Anonyme Edmond Etling, founded in Paris in 1909, manufactured decorative objects and commissioned sculptors and artists, including Georges Béal, Demétre Chiparus, Claire Colinet, Armand Godard, Geneviève Granger, Marcel Guillard, Maurice Guiraud-Rivière, Géza Hiecz, Fanny Rozet, and Lucille Sevin...Category
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Goldscheider Porcelain Eagle on Rock, 1900-1918By Goldscheider Manufactory of ViennaLocated in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaGoldscheider porcelain eagle on rock 1900-1920 signed Goldscheider stamped fache little chi at the base.Category
Vintage 1920s Austrian Art Deco Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Mythological Group 'Thalia With Tree', by J.J. Kaendler, Germany, c 1900By Meissen Porcelain, Johann Joachim KaendlerLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen group: Thalia, the muse of theater and comic poetry, covered only with a large cloth, smiling and sitting on a rock under a cherry tree, holding a mask next to her...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Rococo Style Gardener Group, 'Apple Harvest', by Kaendler, Germany, 1850By Meissen Porcelain, Johann Joachim KaendlerLocated in Vienna, ATElaborately crafted porcelain group from the 19th century: A couple of gardeners and two boys harvesting apples, dressed in rural Rococo robes with fine decorations, a boy standing at the top end of the ladder leaning against the tree and picking apples, below them the gardener couple, the female catching them in her apron held high while the beau reaches an apple to her mouth, a boy sitting behind the tree and taking an apple from the full hat standing next to him on a tree stump. On a round meadow base with three-dimensional foliage and gold-heightened rocaille decoration. Designer: JOHANN JOACHIM KÄNDLER (1706 - 1775) was chief sculptor at the Meissen manufactory from 1742 to 1775. He is the most famous modeller Meissen manufactory ever had and created famous series such as Shepherd Figurines, Comedian's Children, Gardener Children (with Acier), Paris Town Criers (with Reinicke and Meyer) , Gallant Figurines, etc. Kaendler designed model 1755...Category
Antique 1850s German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Commedia Dell'Arte Group Harlequin Family by J.J. Kaendler Germany c1870By Meissen Porcelain, Johann Joachim KaendlerLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Commedia dell'Arte figure group from the 19th century: Harlequin and Columbine with child dancing in a circle: Harlequin in green jacket with golden buttons and white ruff...Category
Antique 1850s German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Dog Group Pug with Puppy and Bells by J.J. Kaendler Germany, circa 1850By Meissen Porcelain, Johann Joachim KaendlerLocated in Vienna, ATLovingly designed group of animals: Sitting female pug with jingle collar, looking attentively to the right, between her legs a small puppy looking out. Designer: Johann Joachim...Category
Antique 1850s German Rococo Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair Meissen Porcelain Pug Dog Figures With Pup After J.J.KaendlerBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Bridgeport, CTA beautiful pair of heavy Meissen porcelain figures of Pug Dogs with gilt bell collars on blue ribbons.The larger Pug with attached pup. Exquisitely hand-painted with realistic tones and colors. Each Pug is wearing a vibrant blue color ribbon collar...Category
20th Century Regency Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique German Meissen Continental Porcelain Parrot Bird Green Gilt 19th CenturyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Dublin, IrelandVery Stylish German Meissen Glazed Porcelain Parrot of exceptional quality, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. Naturalistically modelled and perched on a tree stump above a roc...Category
Antique 19th Century German Late Victorian Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic, Porcelain, Pottery