Four Meissen Porcelain Plaques Depicting the Four Seasons
About the Item
- Creator:Meissen Porcelain (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.73 in (12 cm)Width: 3.94 in (10 cm)Depth: 2.37 in (6 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 4
- Style:Folk Art (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 19th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- 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: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- 19th Century German Meissen painted porcelain plaqueBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GB19th Century German Meissen painted porcelain plaque German, 19th Century Height 11cm, width 13.5cm, depth 1cm This charming painted porcelain plaque d...Category
Antique 19th Century German Neoclassical Paintings
MaterialsMetal
- 19th Century KPM porcelain plaque of the Battle of CorinthBy KPM PorcelainLocated in London, GB19th Century KPM porcelain plaque of the Battle of Corinth German, 19th Century Frame: Height 37.5cm, width 44cm, depth 5cm Plaque: H...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Classical Roman Paintings
MaterialsGiltwood, Porcelain
- Antique Meissen Porcelain Plaque after CorreggioBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBAntique Meissen porcelain plaque after Correggio German, 19th Century Measures: Frame: Height 43cm, width 50cm, depth 10cm Plaque: Height ...Category
Antique 19th Century German Renaissance Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain, Giltwood
- Meissen Porcelain Bird ModelBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBA Meissen porcelain bird model German, late 19th century Measures: height 15cm, width 15cm, depth 9cm This elegant miniature, of a ptarmigan or sim...Category
Antique Late 19th Century German Belle Époque Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Copeland Porcelain Plaque Depicting the Casket Scene from the Merchant of VeniceBy CopelandLocated in London, GBCopeland porcelain plaque depicting the Casket Scene from The Merchant of Venice English, Late 19th Century Frame: height 47.5cm, width 65.5cm, de...Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain, Giltwood
- Large Porcelain ‘Water’ Ewer from the ‘Elements’ Series by MeissenBy Meissen PorcelainLocated in London, GBLarge porcelain ‘Water’ ewer from the ‘Elements’ series by Meissen German, 19th Century Height 61cm, width 36cm, depth 23cm With sensational design elements, this Meissen jug...Category
Antique 19th Century German Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Oil by Luis Taberner Y Montalvo on Porcelain, 19th CenturyBy Luis Taberner y MontalvoLocated in Benalmadena, ESWonderful work of the great master Luis Taberner y Montalvo (1844 - 1900). This is one of the last works by the artist from Madrid who died just 4 years after painting it. Both for i...Category
Antique 19th Century Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain
- French Limoges Enamel Portrait Plaque Depicting Catherine de MediciLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA French Limoges enamel portrait plaque depicting Catherine de Medici, 19th century contained in an ebonized frame monogrammed and dated to the r...Category
Antique 19th Century Paintings
MaterialsEnamel
- 19th Century, German, Hand Painted Porcelain PlaqueLocated in Los Angeles, CA19th Century, German, Hand Painted Porcelain PlaqueCategory
Antique 19th Century German Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain
- Oil on Canvas Depicting a Porcelain Sales Woman, Chinese School, 18th CenturyLocated in Langweer, NLInteresting 18th century painting, Chinese School, for the European market, depicting a porcelain sales woman dealing with European traders. Medium: Oil on canvas. Measures: 62.5 x...Category
Antique 18th Century Chinese Paintings
MaterialsCanvas
- Japanese Wood Block Prints "Four Seasons of Tokyo" Uchida Wood Block Printing CoLocated in Amsterdam, Noord HollandUchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd: "Four Seasons of Tokyo", Kyoto, Uchida Wood Block Printing Co., Ltd, undated but ca. 1960, folio of four woodblock prints in a presentation folde...Category
Antique 18th Century Chinese Paintings
MaterialsWood
- Large Antique Oval Hand Painted Portrait of a Woman on a Porcelain Wall PlaqueLocated in Hamilton, OntarioThis antique hand painted portrait is unsigned, but done in Europe, most likely Austria or Italy in circa 1890 in the period Victorian styl...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Victorian Paintings
MaterialsPorcelain