Art Nouveau Figurine 'Pierrette' by Martin Wiegand, Meissen Germany, ca 1908
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer),Martin Wiegand (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 7.49 in (19 cm)Width: 6.3 in (16 cm)Depth: 5.91 in (15 cm)
- Style:Art Nouveau (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1900-1909
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1908
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Vienna, AT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1014434975682
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: Vienna, Austria
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Meissen Art Nouveau Figurine, Lady With Muff, by Konrad Hentschel, ca 1906By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATElegant young lady with a wide-brimmed hat, decorated with green-brown-white checkered ribbons and a blue feather, wearing a floor-length white dress with a green hem and button plac...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Germany Art Nouveau Figurine Girl With Shawl, by Theodor Eichler, c 1913By Theodor Eichler, Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATDepiction of a young unclothed Art Nouveau girl with artfully pinned up hair with incorporated hood, a large striped cloth wrapped around her right fo...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Children Group 'Two Girls', by A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, ca 1912By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATExtremely rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain group: Two barefoot girls in summer clothes, the older one in a striped skirt and white and blue long-slee...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Children Group 'Two Girls', by A. Koenig, Meissen Germany, ca 1940By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain figure group: Two barefoot girls in summer clothes, the older one in a green-brown skirt and white long-sleeved shirt with blue stripes, her hair pinned up in two side bunches, the younger child in a red-purple dress sitting on the ground, holding her by the arm and pulling her up. The model is part of a series of beach motifs by Alfred König. Based on a white round base with a relief structure on the side and a gold rim. Very lifelike and loving representation of the characters and the details Designer: ALFRED KÖNIG (1871 - 1940) studied at the art academy in Dresden, since 1897 he worked in the Meissen manufactory as a designer and modeler. The artist specialized in the design of human figures in various variations, such as genre figures, children, athletes, soldiers etc. Model B 290...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Group 'Girl With Goat', by Erich Hoesel, Meissen Germany, ca 1910By Meissen PorcelainLocated in Vienna, ATVery rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain group: Girl in a striped dress with polka dots and a white blouse holding a bouquet of flowers in both hands above her head and fending off a ...Category
Vintage 1910s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Nouveau Group 'Capture Of A Nymph', by Paul Helmig, Meissen Germany, Ca 1902By Meissen Porcelain, Paul HelmigLocated in Vienna, ATExquisite large and rare Meissen Art Nouveau porcelain group: Triton adorned with water lily wreath on his head, half man, half fish with scaled legs leaning against a high wave and ...Category
Antique Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Figurine of Cherub as Scottish Lass Dancing GermanyBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Montreal, QCDelightful little Meissen porcelain figurine of a cherub as a Scottish lass, curtsying for a dance. From the tam atop her head to her plaid kilt to her little bare feet, she is a ros...Category
Early 20th Century German Edwardian Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Dorothea Charol Rosenthal Art Deco Pierrette Porcelain FigurineBy Dorothea CharolLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireA rare and stunning Art Deco Rosenthal porcelain figurine titled Pierrette designed by renowned Sculptor Dorothea Charol (German, 1889-1963) dating from around 1926. This tall and ex...Category
Vintage 1920s European Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Female Golfer Figurine by Peter StrangBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine Meissen porcelain figurine or miniature. By Peter Strang. Strang was born in Dresden in 1935 and received a degree in Sculpture from the Academy...Category
20th Century German Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Fred Cooke for Minton Art Deco Pierrette Porcelain FigurineBy MintonLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireA rare Minton Art Deco porcelain figurine titled Pierette designed by Fred Cooke and dating from around 1930. This delightful standing figurine stands moun...Category
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Meissen Porcelain Figurine Busts of a Man & Woman by Peter StrangBy Meissen Porcelain, Peter StrangLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine pair of miniature Meissen porcelain busts. By Peter Strang. In the form of a man and woman in casual clothing. The man wears an argyle sweater a...Category
20th Century German Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Vintage Meissen Porcelain Golfer or Golfing Figurine by Peter StrangBy Meissen Porcelain, Peter StrangLocated in Philadelphia, PAA fine Meissen porcelain miniature or figurine. By Peter Strang. Strang was born in Dresden in 1935 and received a degree in Sculpture from the Academy...Category
20th Century German Modern Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain