German Porcelain Partial Dinner Service, Meissen, 19th Century
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)Diameter: 10 in (25.4 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th Century
- Condition:Both serving dishes with chips.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Large German Porcelain Dinner Service, Meissen, circa 1875Located in New York, NYDelicately painted in German taste with rose camaieu flowers, the cavetto with spiral molding insterspersed with flowers, and the border with variations of basket weaving. Covered tureen and stand, pair of entree dishes, bowl, sauceboat, fish platter, meat platter, 12 dinner plates, 12 soup bowls, 12 coffee cup and saucers, 12 demi tasse cup and saucers...Category
Antique 1870s German Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Fine English Porcelain Dessert Service, Minton, circa 1830Located in New York, NYComprising 24 plates, pair of covered sauce tureens and stands, pair of shell dishes and a pair of rectangular dishes. The bright blue ground interspersed with gilt-edged reticulatio...Category
Antique 1830s English Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain 'Swan Service' Dish, 20th centuryLocated in New York, NYDecorated in relief with swans on a shell ground amidst reeds. Produced on the occasion to commemorate the 275th anniversary of the establishment of the Meissen Factory in Germany.Category
20th Century Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain
- Assembled Copeland and Garrett Part Dinner Service, Early 19th CenturyLocated in New York, NYUPDATE: SOLD 12 dinner plates, 10 soup plates, one well-and-tree platter. Each piece transfer-printed in blue with panels of classical figures and vases, comprising: a soup tureen and cover, a {21" well-and-tree meat platter}, a 21" platter printed with a coat of arms, a 14.75" platter, a 14.5" platter and strainer, two 12.5" platter, three 11.75" platters, two sauce tureens, covers and stands, an open vegetable dish, a lozenge-shaped dish, two shaped square dishes, a lozenge-shaped tazza, {twelve dinner plates, ten soup plates}, five dessert plates and five side plates, some pieces with either printed and impressed Copeland and Garrett...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Large English Porcelain Dinner Service, Minton, circa 1845Located in New York, NYWith a soft turquoise ground, painted with a fine spray of flowers, with gilt scroll and dash borders. Comprising pair of covered tureens and stands, pair of vegetable tureens, well and tree platter...Category
Antique 1840s English Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- English Porcelain Botanical Dinner Service, Coalport, circa 1840Located in New York, NYComprising pair of sauce tureens on stands, pair of shell dishes, 4 oval dishes, 4 rectangular dishes, 18 plates, (8 dishes). Inscribed in gilt with botanical identification.Category
Antique 1840s English Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- 49-Piece Meissen Porcelain Dinner Service in Rare Puce/Purple ColorBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Milford, NHA fine 49-piece Meissen porcelain dinner service in a rare purple/puce color, including 10 10-inch dinner plates, 12 9-inch luncheon p...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain
- Danish 19th Century Bing Grøndahl Dinner Service with Greek Key PatternBy Bing & GrøndahlLocated in Haddonfield, NJ19th century Orange and Gilt Danish Bing Grøndahl Dinner Service For Twelve Magnificent Danish Bing and Grøndahl complete dinner service set with tableware serving pieces for a m...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Danish Neoclassical Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique Meissen 68-Piece Floral Dinner ServiceBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBAntique Meissen 68-piece floral dinner service German, c. 1900 Largest serving dish: Height 6cm, width 52.5cm, depth 37.5cm Square salad bowl:...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Rococo Dinner Plates
MaterialsPorcelain
- Four Antique Meissen Dinner Plates in Porcelain, Late 19th CLocated in Copenhagen, DKFour antique Meissen dinner plates. Hand-painted with blue flowers and butterflies. Late 19th century. D 24.0 x H 3.5 cm. Marked. In excellen...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Five Coalport Dessert Plates, 19th CenturyBy Coalport PorcelainLocated in San Francisco, CAFive Coalport dessert plates, 19th century Four matching red One mismatched brown (same pattern) Each dish measures 9.5" diameter Fa...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English High Victorian Platters and Serveware
MaterialsPorcelain
- 19th Century Spanish Traditional Metal PlateLocated in Barcelona, BarcelonaMetal plate from Spain by unknown manufacturer, circa 19th century. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a be...Category
Antique 19th Century European Mid-Century Modern Dinner Plates
MaterialsMetal