Pair of 19th C Cobalt Blue Meissen Serpent Porcelain Vases
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 4 in (10.16 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1880
- Condition:Repaired: Both in good condition with some gilt loss. One vase has two small old repairs on the foot as shown in images. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:Chapel Hill, NC
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7371235767822
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: Graham, NC
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Set of Vintage English Cobalt Blue Apothecary JarsLocated in Chapel Hill, NCSet of Vintage Cylindrical English Cobalt Blue Apothecary Jars . The bigger one measures 10” x 3.5” and the smaller one is 8.5” x 2.75. Both stopp...Category
Vintage 1920s English Bottles
MaterialsGlass
- 19th Century Italian Faience Floral Decorated Apothecary JarsLocated in Chapel Hill, NC19th Century Italian Faience Floral Decorated Apothecary Jars. Each with applied floral finials. both with latin inscription depicting the type of medicine contained in each jar. One...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Italian Baroque Vases
MaterialsCeramic
- Pair of 18/19th Century Chinese Powder Blue LampsLocated in Chapel Hill, NCThis pair of 18th/19th Century Chinese Blue lamps is a beautiful and elegant example of Chinese porcelain craftsmanship. Powder blue became popular on porcelains in the Kangxi reign....Category
Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Table Lamps
MaterialsBronze
- Pair of Vintage Murano Cornucopia Glass Vases attributed to Archimede SegusoBy Archimede SegusoLocated in Chapel Hill, NCGorgeous pair of Murano Cornucopia glass vases attributed to Archimede Seguso. Finely crafted and infused with gold flecks throughout. A beautiful ad...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
MaterialsMurano Glass
- 19th Century Cast Brass Mantle Garnitures or Chenets in the Anglo-Indian TasteLocated in Chapel Hill, NCA large pair of cast brass garnitures or chenets in the Orientalist or Anglo-Indian taste featuring full bodied caparisoned elephants carrying an elaborate howdah (saddle) with a sch...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Anglo-Indian Garniture
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of Antique French Cobalt Blue Ceramic LampsLocated in Chapel Hill, NCPair of Antique French Cobalt Blue Ceramic Lamps. These were originally used as oil lamps and were later converted to electricity. Wired and i...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Pair of German Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue VasesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vilnius, LTPair of antique German Meissen porcelain vases designed by August Leuteritz, decorated with snake handles, cobalt blue color and gold. Meisse...Category
Early 20th Century German Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of 19th Century Meissen Gold & White Neoclassical Serpent Handled VasesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in West Palm Beach, FLPair of 19th Century Meissen gold & white neoclassical serpent handled vases. Germany, circa 1880s Design attributed to E.A. Leuteritz Hard to find ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Neoclassical Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large Pair Meissen Style Porcelain Lidded Vases, 19th CenturyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Brighton, SussexA very impressive and decorative pair of Meissen style lidded porcelain vases. Each with floral encrusted decoration to the pierced lids, Rams head handles to either side, classical ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Pot-Pourri Vase, Germany, 19th CenturyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Buenos Aires, Buenos AiresMeissen porcelain pot-pourri vase, Germany, 19th century.Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Rococo Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of Meissen Porcelain Vases with Snake HandlesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Pembroke, MAA highly-decorative pair of yellow porcelain vases, hand-painted with detailed central romantic scene, and having snake-form handles (Me...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large 19th Century German Gilt-Trimmed Meissen Porcelain VaseBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NY19th century German large blue and white Meissen porcelain vase with gilt trim and scroll handles.Category
Antique 19th Century German Napoleon III Porcelain
MaterialsGold