Pair of Meissen Late 19th Century Vases with Watteau Style Paintings
View Similar Items
Pair of Meissen Late 19th Century Vases with Watteau Style Paintings
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 9.13 in (23.2 cm)Diameter: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Romantic (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1890s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. By minor losses, I mean 4 tiny flakes off the base rim of one of the vases. These are insignificant. This does not effect the integrity of the vase, and can not be seen when they are standing. The vases are in great antique condition. Just beautiful!
- Seller Location:Boston, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5389220042062
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.
- Twelve Meissen Dessert Plates, Each with Museum Quality Paintings of FruitsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAMagnificent set of twelve Meissen fruit or dessert plates with museum quality paintings of different fruits on each plate. If you scroll through the pict...Category
Antique 1870s German Victorian Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of Eight Meissen Dessert Plates Each Painted with a Different Flower BouquetBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAI want to offer you this beautiful set of eight Meissen dessert plates. Each plate is painted with a different central flower bouquet. Inside th...Category
Antique 1890s German Romantic Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 12 Meissen Luncheon Plates Each Painted with a Different Flower BouquetBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAThis is a fabulous set of twelve Meissen luncheon or dessert plates. Each of these Meissen plates are beautifully painted with a different large central flower bouquet. The artwork o...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Romantic Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Reticulated Cabinet Plate with Flower Bouquet and Raised Forget Me NotsBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAThis is an exquisite Meissen cabinet plate painted with a large beautiful flower bouquet. The Meissen plate has a very intricate reticulated or ...Category
Antique 1890s German Romantic Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Tall Fabulous Royal Worcester Vase Hand Painted with Ferns and Other FloraBy Royal WorcesterLocated in Boston, MAThis is a stunning tall Royal Worcester vase hand painted with beautiful ferns and other flora. Each of the flora paintings have raised blush ivory porcelain decoration between them....Category
Antique 1890s English Romantic Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Purple Indian Serving BowlBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Boston, MAWe are offering you this lovely Meissen purple Indian serving bowl. It has detailed paintings of pink flowers with some purple and gold accents ...Category
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Serving Bowls
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair 19th Century Rococo Style Meissen Porcelain Parrot and Flower Lidded VasesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYAn incredible pair of 19th century Rococo Style Meissen Porcelain parrot and flower encrusted lidded vases. Each is absolutely stunning with a variety of hand-painted and encrusted f...Category
Antique 19th Century German Rococo 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 19th Century Meissen VasesBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Brighton, SussexA good quality pair of 19th century Meissen porcelain vases. Each having gilded scrolling decoration with inset painted panels depicting harbour scenes. Blue crossed swords to base.Category
Antique 19th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
$8,688 / set - 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
- A Fine Pair of 19th Century German Meissen Porcelain VasesLocated in Los Angeles, CAA Fine Pair of 19th Century German Meissen Porcelain Vases Painted with group and bird scenes. Heavily decorated on both sides of the each vase Germany, Circa 19th Century S...Category
Antique 19th Century German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large Meissen Double Handle Vase w/ Lovers and Floral Panels after WatteauBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYA Gorgeous and large Meissen double handle vase with Watteau lovers panel and flower panel scenes. The panels are completed after the works by Jean-Antoine Watteau, the most famous F...Category
Antique 1890s German Louis XVI Vases
MaterialsPorcelain