Pair of Signed Meissen Lemon Yellow Hand-Painted Botanical Vases
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Diameter: 6.75 in (17.15 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1900-1920
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Great Barrington, MA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: 1012228331437
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: Great Barrington, MA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Pair of Pickard Hand Painted Artist Signed Japonesque Vases, circa1912By PickardLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis pair of porcelain vases were custom order and uniquely studio painted as described on the base: "Decorated specially for Mrs. AA Carroll by Dizewiecki of the Pickard Studios, Ravenswood Chicago 1912". The rare hexagonal shape is decorated in a Japonsque motif in vibrant polychrome enamels all highlighted in gold. Standing almost 12" tall, these are perfect as mantel (fireplace) vases, on a sideboard and of course filled with your favorite flowers! "The Pickard China...Category
Vintage 1910s American Anglo-Japanese Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of Spode Porcelain Vases w/ Hand Painted Rose Specimens Artist SignedBy SpodeLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis is a beautiful pair of Spode hand painted, artist signed "Sevres Green" porcelain vases with gilded graceful handles rising above the opening. Painted on both front and reverse ...Category
Early 20th Century English Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Royal Doulton Hand Painted Signed Vase w/ Birch Tree Landscape DecorationBy Royal DoultonLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis finely decorated porcelain vase was made by Royal Doulton and is hand painted and artist signed J. Price. He was known for his beautiful landscapes and this vase is decorated on...Category
Vintage 1920s English Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Porcelain VaseLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis is a finely painted decorative very large vase. The interior is white and the body, a subtle pink exterior with enamel painted ferns. It is further embellished with gold at the ...Category
Antique 19th Century French Vases
MaterialsPorcelain, Paste
- Royal Crown Derby Hand-Painted Porcelain Vase with RosesBy Royal Crown Derby PorcelainLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis is a beautiful hand-painted porcelain vase both decorative and practical. A combination of cobalt blue with gold and hand-painted roses encircle the perimeter with a nice wide b...Category
Vintage 1930s English Vases
MaterialsPaste
- 12 Cauldon B W & M Hand-Painted Botanical Dessert Plates Artist SignedBy CauldonLocated in Great Barrington, MAThis set of 12 Cauldon/Brown Westhead and Moore dessert plates are decorated with the most elaborate and finely hand-painted botanical motifs. The cobalt blue ground frames the centr...Category
Antique Early 1900s English Dinner Plates
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
- Important Pair of Meissen Porcelain Filigree Vases with Raised FlowersBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYA Highly Important pair of Museum Quality Louis XV Period 18th century Meissen Porcelain filigree openwork vases with a medially of flowers and vined leaves. This is truly an excepti...Category
Antique 1750s German Louis XV Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- A Rare Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Platinum & Gold Floral Painted VaseBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in New York, NYA Highly Important and Rare Meissen Porcelain Cobalt Blue Ground Vase with Platinum and Gold Hand-Painted Decoration. An exquisite and fine C...Category
Antique 1860s German Louis XVI Vases
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of Important Porcelain Vases with Female Heads by Augustus Rex for MeissenBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-FranceThis pair of important and very beautiful vases is made of ceramic with 2 female faces and beautiful and fine decors. These vases were made for Meissen manufacture by Augustus Rex (a...Category
Antique 1850s French Romantic Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Pair of Antique Hand Painted Chinese VasesLocated in Dallas, TXPair of antique hand painted Chinese vases exhibit beautiful artistic scenes with exotic birds, flowers and a forest sunset enhanced by the ...Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Antique Meissen Porcelain Vase with Hand-Painted Flowers, Ca 1900Located in Copenhagen, DKAntique Meissen porcelain vase with hand-painted flowers. Purple and gold decoration. Ca. 1900. Measures: 19.5 x 11 cm. In excellen...Category
Early 20th Century German Biedermeier Vases
MaterialsPorcelain